Barack Obama just became the first US president to feature on the cover of an LGBT magazine

President Barack Obama has become the first sitting US president to grace the cover of an LGBT magazine.

In a photoshoot and interview for Out Magazine, Obama was named 'Ally of the Year' for his efforts on the "right side of justice" in supporting same-sex marriage.

Editor-in-chief Aaron Hicklin wrote of the top entry in Out's list of 100:

A president who came to office on a wave of euphoria, appeared to lose momentum halfway through... has since rallied, helping us secure marriage equality, among other landmark initiatives that are transforming our place in America.

In the accompanying interview Obama said that the first openly gay person he remembered meeting was a college professor who was an inspirational figure on campus for gay and lesbian students.

...Keep in mind, this was 1978. That took a lot of courage, a lot of confidence in who you are and what you stand for.

The president also said that the US is committed to promoting LGBT rights abroad.

Other advocates who made the top 100 include Olympian Caitlyn Jenner, actress Raven Symone, artist Juliana Huxtable and journalist Jose Antonio Vargas.

More: Laverne Cox has this to say about Caitlyn Jenner's Vanity Fair cover