The idea of two gay black men raising kids, it seems, is just too much for Twitter to take. Even some positive responses are more like backhanded compliments.
Many of the more overtly racist, homophobic Tweets have been removed, but the ones like "finally a black gay couple" are equally as problematic to the duo.
Most of the positive feedback hit on two key points:
That Kordale and Kaleb are a black gay couple, in general
That it was nice to see black men taking care of children
Indeed, the controversy surrounding this photo raises many broad cultural questions. Kordale and Kaleb responded to them in a statement to the Huffington Post:
As far as the positive; yes we are two gay men with three kids who have no problem with preparing them for their education every morning; that comes with anything and everything they may need for school!
Our kids are blessed to have three parents (Kordale, Kaleb and their Mother) who love, care and support them in every decision they have made and will continue to make as they get older.
We are blessed to have the ability to provide for them in ways that a lot of people cannot for their family, which ultimately makes us happy knowing that they don't want for much! Our main objective as parents is to provide, love, educate, support, encourage, and love some more!
In regard to the negative, people fail to realize that we are people too with kids who love us. We do what is necessary for them to succeed in this ever-changing world but it's sad that we're discriminated against because of our sexuality and/or what we do behind closed doors - which is no one's business.
In the same breath, we take all of what's been said in stride.
The picture was put out on social media for an opinion so we can't be mad when people give just that: an opinion. People tend to think that gay people cannot raise their children to be heterosexuals.
Instead, they have derogatory thoughts of us "tainting" our children or "confusing them" with what society sees deems as wrong an unmanly because we're gay. But this is all comical because people forget where a lot of gays come from: a heterosexual household.
This is another prime example of where we are as a nation in 2014 - continuous discrimination against gays. Being gay is the new normal for a lot of people and judgment isn't needed, just equality! We may be gay but this does not mean we are incapable of what a heterosexual couple is capable of!
Us gays are just as educated and passionate about what we do and how we do it!
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