Sharp Response from Photo Owner Edited for Gay Parenting Narrative

Jakarta, VIVA – Social media has been abuzz with controversy over the alleged misuse of a family photo edited to support a narrative regarding gay parenting. The incident drew widespread attention after the photo’s owner spoke out and denied the viral post on Threads. The case sparked public concern because it not only involved alleged image manipulation but also the use of children’s photos without parental consent. The firm response from the photo owner became a talking point for correcting the misinformation that had already spread on social media.

Initially, a Threads account named Rio Damar uploaded a photo showing two men with two children. The post included a narrative linking the image to the life of a same-sex couple family. The account wrote, ‘Dear heteronormative couple, this is what gay parenting looks like. We usually adopt children abandoned by heterosexuals because many of them only want the fun but run away from responsibility. We don’t mind cleaning up the mess. We’re sincere.’

Shortly after the post went viral, a Threads user with the account @hanumtk provided clarification. She asserted that the circulating photo was actually of her family with her husband and their two children. According to her, the image had been edited to remove her figure and replace it with another man, making the family photo appear to depict a different family. To support her explanation, she uploaded the original, unedited photo. ‘Dear LGBTQ+, this is a photo of a husband, wife, and children taking a family photo,’ wrote the account.

Beyond highlighting the alleged photo editing, many social media users also criticised the use of a minor’s photo in a sensitive narrative without parental consent. They argued that the distribution of modified private photos could impact the family’s privacy, especially when the children’s identities are widely disseminated on the internet. The debate subsequently shifted to the importance of respecting individual privacy rights on social media. Many netizens reminded that using someone else’s photo, particularly after altering it to support a specific narrative, can cause harm to the photo’s owner.