Posting this because representation matters. The black, gay, and happy gworls are out here! We live together and have two cats. This was our 1 year anniversary. We are at the 1 year and 8month mark and still going strong! pic.twitter.com/MZiIfzl5e1
— Ty (@TheBigDog77) October 1, 2019
Rare is the same-sex kiss photo that attracts 100,000 likes in its first week on Twitter, but then again, rare is the photo that shows gay love without “classically attractive white gay men,” as Tyler Hightower tells NBC News.
After seeing a photo of another black gay couple Twitter, Hightower shared a snapshot of him kissing his boyfriend, Ahdeem Tinsley.
“Posting this because representation matters,” Hightower captioned the photo. “The black, gay, and happy gworls are out here! We live together and have two cats. This was our 1 year anniversary. We are at the 1 year and 8month mark and still going strong!”
Related: From Lil’ Nas X to Lena Waithe, Black gays are having a moment of pure joy. And it’s about time.
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Twitter users raved over the romantic photo. “This is beautiful,” one wrote. “Y’all are so LOVELY!” said another. A third comment: “There’s seriously nothing that makes me happier than seeing 2 people that love each other and aren’t afraid to show it.”
“The responses have been awe-inspiring,” Hightower, a 26-year-old cancer research coordinator, added in his NBC News interview. “People are replying saying that the picture made their day and that they didn’t know there was love for people like them.”
Related: Three gay couples will tie the knot in a big military wedding ceremony
The Philly resident went on: “Part of our identity is being fat, heavy, thick, black and gay men, and we want all people to know that no matter your size, color or religion, be yourself and live authentically, and you will find love. I’d been closeted for a very long time, and now I’ve found true happiness.”
PS1
This is NOT good representation for our community.
As a FORMER fat, black bi man, I can tell you that obesity is not desirable, on any level.
There’s no reason to “glamourize” unhealthy behaviors like this.
F*ck diversity! We’re talking about people lives!
Obesity KILLS!
jonasalden
Absolutely. But we’re expected to pretend it isn’t true in order to “save” people’s feelings rather than their lives. I too was but an overweight kid, so I hear ya.
1898
get a grip. a couple posting a happy photo of themselves on social media is not glamorizing anything. the idea that people like this should hide in the shadows and never show themselves or be shown is more likely to kill people via depression/suicide than via complications of obesity
Smith David
jonasalden..You mean the same way we pretend those gay men who have died of late from drug overdose are happy? Because they are a good representation of the gay community? Thin, pretty, happy and on drugs. Why can’t we be kinder to each other? Everyone is struggling with something. We all deserve to be on this earth and to be loved.
If not, what really separates us from hateful people and homophobes?
1898
there are plenty of gay men who *are* hateful people and homophobes, as we often have the misfortune of witnessing in these comment sections
Kangol2
I think it’s a beautiful photo!
There are tons of Black gay men who can relate to them, and gay men of all races for that matter, who share their size. They have found love with each other and it’s a beautiful thing to see, especially given the lack of representations of Black same-sex couples or everyday couples of whatever race in mainstream media or even LGBTQ media sites like this one.
More power to them, and I wish them continued happiness and love!