Two school students sparked an LGBT solidarity campaign when they
won the yearbook photo competition for ‘Cutest Couple.’
Lance and Jair, who attend McKinleyville Middle School in
California, US, posed for the photo for their yearbook and were voted by their
fellow students as the cutest couple in the school.
Although the photo looks romantic, they aren’t gay. They’re actually
both straight and cousins.
The two cousins wanted to show everyone relationship is valid: gay
or straight.
However, students at the school soon began to worry there may be
repercussions for the photo. Once the image had been shared on social media, it
attracted the attention of at least one angry parent who complained to the
school, reports the Local Coast Outpost.
Principal Julie Giannini Previde told the news source yearbook
photos are vetted by a committee before the final yearbook is presented to her
for final proofing, which hasn’t happened yet.
Apprehending the photo may be excluded from the yearbook, the
students decided to start a social media campaign to show their solidarity for
same-sex relationships.
Students posted photos where they are recreating the pose with the
hashtag #ThisIsOk.
Lance’s mom Lally was initially worried the boys might get
punished, but it wound up to be a very positive experience.
‘Personally, I think it’s an amazing photo,’ she said. ‘I’m a
little jealous that my husband and I don’t have the same type of photograph.
‘I think he’s just really happy that it turned positive and that
the school’s supporting him.’
The student who took the original photo, Lianne, said the original
concept behind the photo was a very simple one.
‘I guess I was just trying to spread the word and say it’s OK to be
like that, to love anyone,’ she said.
‘Everybody thought the photo was cute. You can turn a lot of bad
things into a really good thing.’
Any homophobia on behalf of the school has been dismissed, as
parents of the school say the issue was more about the fact that the students
did not have permission to post the photo to social media.
Take a look at some of the #ThisIsOk photos which have been posted
to social media to see the inspiring way a small group of students are showing
their solidarity to the greater LGBT community.
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