In addition to being the first president to spike the football by lighting the White House in rainbow colors after the Supreme Court ruling redefining marriage, Barack Obama is now the first sitting president to appear in Out Magazine, a gay publication.

“For someone who at first seemed coy, even awkward, on the subject, President Obama’s evolution on marriage equality has been something to behold,” the magazine writes.

The magazine puts him on the cover, names him the 2015 “Ally of the Year” and a member of the Out100:

In an interview with the magazine, he again stated the government trumps religious liberty.

What advice would you give to the Kim Davises of America who feel they are being forced to choose between the law and their conscience?

I am a man of faith and believe deeply in religious freedom, but at the end of the day, nobody is above the rule of law — especially someone who voluntarily takes an oath to uphold that law. That’s something we’ve got to respect. 

“When I travel around the world and speak to foreign audiences, I think it is helpful when I acknowledge our own shortcomings and speak honestly about our history and the lessons we’ve learned along the way instead of pretending that we have all the answers,” Obama said in the interview.

The magazine described the president — who once was staunchly opposed to gay marriage — as “Ally. Hero. Icon.”