An interracial gay couple says they removed an anniversary photo from social media after it was inundated with racist and homophobic comments, turning what was intended as a celebration of their relationship into what they described as an experience of targeted online harassment.
The photo, posted last weekend to commemorate the couple’s fifth anniversary, showed them kissing aboard a bass boat while holding a largemouth bass. The image also included members of both of their families, who joined them on the fishing trip.
According to the couple, they first met during a fishing trip on the same lake five years ago.
The couple said the post quickly attracted abusive comments from strangers, prompting them to first make the post private before ultimately removing it altogether.
“What should have been one of the happiest posts of our lives turned into something we had to protect our families from,” the couple said in a statement. “Our parents were in that photo. Our moms had to read those comments.”
The couple said they reported dozens of Facebook accounts for violating the platform’s policies but claimed many of the comments remained visible for hours before any action was taken. They said the experience renewed their concerns about how social media platforms respond to targeted harassment directed at LGBTQ+ people and interracial couples.
Although the anniversary post has been removed, the couple said they remain committed to continuing the tradition that inspired it.
“We’ll be back on that lake next year for anniversary number six,” they said. “They can’t take that from us.”
