Instagram stirred up some hot water after removing a photo of a gay kiss for “violating community guidelines.”
The controversial pic in question? Photographer Stella Asia Consonni’s snap of long-term gay couple Jordan Bowen and Luca Lucifer smooching passionately, with the caption, “is pizza is the only thing better than love? [sic]”
Instagram’s removal sparked some immediate outrage. Among those who spoke out in support of Consonni were musicians Olly Alexander of Years and Years and Jade Thirlwall of Little Mix.
Bowen wrote on his Instagram account:
“My relationship of seven years with @iamlucalucifer reduced to a Community Guideline. Earlier this was removed from @stellaasiaconsonni and flagged as inappropriate. @instagram spoon feeds us with rainbows and hashtags to appear in solidarity but it seems real people in love have no place here. Earlier this was removed from @stellaasiaconsonni and flagged as inappropriate. @instagram spoon feeds us with rainbows and hashtags to appear in solidarity but it seems real people in love have no place here.”
An Instagram spokesperson said in a statement: “This post was removed in error and we are sorry. It has since been reinstated.”
“This is just a teeny tiny event in the grand scheme of things,” said Consonni once the photo was restored to her page, “but seeing all the amazing response certainly restored a little of my faith in humanity.”
“There is still a long way to go in the fight against homophobia,” she continues in another rainbow post. “This goes to all my beautiful friends that have to deal with this BS all the time.”
h/t: https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/07/02/instagram-apologises-for-taking-down-gay-kiss-photo/