Couple on No poster release statement as Mothers and Fathers Matter respond
The couple who
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The unnamed family - who live in the UK - asked Colm O'Gorman of Amnesty International Ireland to release a statement on their behalf:
“We were surprised and upset to see that the photo was being used as part of a campaign with which we do not agree. We completely support same-sex marriage, and we believe that same-sex couples’ should of course be able to adopt, as we believe that they are equally able to provide children with much-needed love and care. To suggest otherwise is offensive to us, and to many others.”
Mothers and Fathers Matter have also released a very brief statement today:
“We’re just worried that next week Colm O’Gorman will be shocked and appalled as he discovers the family in the coke ads actually likes pepsi”."
The couple say they gave permission for photos of their family taken by a photographer friend to be used as stock photos but add that they have never received any money for them.
“No money was exchanged – we got nice photos for free, they got nice images for their portfolio. As part of this agreement, we agreed to let them upload them to a stock photo album,” they said.
“To confirm, we have not received any money for the photo – then or now, and nor do we expect any.”
The couple also reiterated that they would vote Yes if they were Irish residents.
Colm O’Gorman, Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland said:
"They want to ensure that when people look at those posters on lamp posts all around the country, and feel angry or upset because of how it judges them or members of their family, that the real family on the poster values them, values their relationships and ALL families. They want them to know, that they would vote ‘Yes’."
The couple also added that they were unsure of the legality of the use of their image for a political campaign:
“We are not lawyers and therefore cannot comment on whether the use of the photo violates any terms and conditions regarding use of stock photos of children for political use, though we are interested to know more about this," they said.
"We are unhappy that the image of us was used for a political campaign as legally this seems a bit of a grey area, and we would have expected that for a big campaign like this, Mothers & Fathers Matter might have sought out images of people who represent their views. We are aware of
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Elsewhere, an Irish web designer living in France, has reimagined the poster - using a different stock image of the pair - again seemingly without the couple’s knowledge.
The couple concluded their statement by saying that they look forward to raising their young son and their second child - who is due in June - “to be open-minded and unafraid of change, and to respect all colours, creeds and sexualities”.
“Above all we hope that children in Ireland, will be guaranteed the equality that our children enjoy, and will be able to grow up in a society which guarantees them full equality before the law, no matter who they love when they eventually go on to form adult, loving, committed relationships.”
