Illustration: New Yorker covers chronicle changing attitudes towards gay rights

Date
2 July 2013

The New Yorker has always been quick to provide a cultural response to the political and cultural landscape with their illustrated covers, and this week’s momentous decision by the Supreme Court of Justice to strike down the Defence of Marriage Act – which prevented same-sex spouses from being recognised by the state – was no exception.

The leak of this week’s cover, which features much-loved Sesame Street puppets Bert and Ernie cuddling in front of televised footage of the Supreme Court, has been met with a whirlwind of controversy, but the message set by the latest in a long line of New Yorker covers about homosexuality is clear. This week marks a huge turning point, and the bottom line is that changes are a-coming. What better opportunity to look back at the iconic magazine’s previous covers about same-sex unions? The beautifully poignant, sometimes funny, sometimes proud images have been marking the evolution of attitudes towards gay rights for over a decade, and a lovely, celebratory collection they make too.

Above

The New Yorker: June 25 2012

Above

The New Yorker: July 8 & 15, 2013

Above

The New Yorker: May 13, 2013

Above

The New Yorker: May 21, 2012

Above

The New Yorker: June 13, 1994

Above

The New Yorker: June 17, 1996

Above

The New Yorker: March 15, 2004

Above

The New Yorker: July 25, 2011

Above

The New Yorker: January 27, 2003

Share Article

Further Info

About the Author

Maisie Skidmore

Maisie joined It’s Nice That fresh out of university in the summer of 2013 as an intern before joining full time as an Assistant Editor. Maisie left It’s Nice That in July 2015.

It's Nice That Newsletters

Fancy a bit of It's Nice That in your inbox? Sign up to our newsletters and we'll keep you in the loop with everything good going on in the creative world.