Playboy Features Its First Transgender Playmate Ines Rau

Anyone who knew about the late Hugh Hefner would know he was a pioneer of sexual liberalism and freedom of expression. His world view was reflected in the pages ofPlayboy, where articles would explore some of the big issues and topics of the era and aimed to keep people open minded about different aspects of society.

So, it should come as no surprise that the gentlemen's magazine would eventually feature a transgender woman as it's Playmate of the Month.

Introducing French model Ines Rau, who will appear as the November centrefold.

"It makes me even more proud and happy to have done that, because we need to make a mentality change. We have to."

A lot of people say Hugh would be 'rolling in his grave' if he saw the magazine cover, however, Ines was picked before his death and was supposed to feature on the cover for the November issue. But the publishing magnate died two days before it was due to be released and the company decided to put a picture of Hef from 1965 on the cover.

In amongst a lot of negativity, there were very supportive people.

One user on Twitter wrote: "Wow the comments are ridiculous! If any of you actually paid attention to Hef's life and career, you'd know he stood for stuff like this."

While another said: "Always a fan of respect and equity for transgendered people. Transphobia is tired, outdated, and boring."

Ines has appeared before in the magazine, the May 2014 issue, in the section called Playboy A-Z, titled under Evolution. While she will always have the crown of the first transgender Playmate of the Month, she's not the first trans woman to grace the pages ofPlayboy.

That honour goes to British model and James Bond girl Caroline 'Tula' Cossey.

She featured in a pictorial for the Bond filmFor Your Eyes Onlyin 1981, and again 10 years later for a solo shoot. When she first appeared, her gender identity was a secret until a British tabloid 'outed' her.

Cooper Hefner hopes that by including women of all types, it will provoke a conversation about sex and gender.