Consider what a weirdly unnatural place social media has become; it does have a remarkable knack for homeostasis. Think about it: whenever anything is bombarded with an inordinate amount of hate/love, it will inevitably be bombarded with equal parts of the opposite affection, thus attaining homeostasis. (For a better look at this, go on Facebook and ask your friends what they think of Girls. Watch as everyone you know takes one side or the other, split cleanly down the middle. BALANCE!)
Such was the case for Kordale and Kaleb, a pair of gay black fathers raising three daughters. The pair had a respectable following on Instagram, until they posted an image of them getting their kids ready for school. Internet trolls immediately started bombarding them with hate, because BOO! People are different and that’s bad, apparently! HISS!
[Image credit: KordaleNKaleb’s Instagram]
Thankfully, the persistent trolling caught the attention of gay bloggers everywhere, and Kordale and Kaleb were soon flooded with love from people around the world who appreciate good parenting. See? Balance, teetering toward the positive!
In a post-mortem statement to The Huffington Post, the couple talk about the importance of ensuring that their kids grow up in a safe, loving environment. “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,” they said in a joint statement.
In regard to the negative backlash, the couple had few fucks to give: “The picture was put out on social media for an opinion so we can’t be mad when people give just that: an opinion.”
That really is just the nicest way you can tell a troll to shove it.
What confuses me is that judging by the pictures, those kids have two very loving, very attentive fathers more than willing to get up at the crack of dawn to make sure they get to school well-fed and safe. Comparatively, my mother once told me to “shut [my] dick hole” for laughing at her when she flubbed a question in Trivial Pursuit. (We share a very strange, bitter love.)
The point is, there’s more than one way to raise a healthy family or be a good parent or care for your kids. And if you absolutely must sling your vitriol at them, there are plenty of people out there willing to correct you.