The Independent used a stock photo of a same-sex couple in a story and homophobes lost it

At 3.35pm on Wednesday 25 January 2017, The Independent newspaper posted a fairly innocuous article about sleeping habits on their Twitter feed.

Entitled ‘Here’s what your sleeping position reveals about your relationship’, the post soon sent the Twitter users into a frenzy.

Why? Because the newspaper used a stock image of a sleeping same-sex couple to accompany the story.

Here’s what your sleeping position reveals about your relationship https://t.co/D2tcxxZONM

— The Independent (@Independent) January 25, 2017

Sadly, the small but symbolic decision by a picture editor to portray a loving same-sex couple alongside a story about relationships sparked a homophobic backlash from some narrow-minded Twitter users, who couldn’t seem to get their heads round the fact that LGBT people are in fact people too – and people with sleeping positions at that.

“This picture is disgusting”, wrote one user.

“Another LBGT agenda picture without reason,” added another.

One criticised The Independent’s picture editors for daring to normalise same-sex relationships, writing: “Do your staff realise what prats choosing that picture makes them look?”

@Independent who are your editors?

— H.N. Felix (@felixomor2) January 25, 2017

@Independent @indy100 another LBGT agenda picture without reason

— SAMUEL LUGO (@SAMUEL_NIC) January 25, 2017

@Independent Do your staff realise what prats choosing that picture makes them look?

— brainbats (@brainbats) January 25, 2017

@Independent that pic is a bit uncalled for

— Medzart (@MedzArtist) January 25, 2017

@Independent this picture is disgusting

— kingsley o. (@kessyaya) January 25, 2017

@StopWritingNow @Independent @indy100

2 men on bed and they will having s.. That is disgusting

— صاروخ باليستي (@BLTCS1) January 25, 2017

Thankfully, many others were quick to congratulate The Independent on their efforts to diversify the images they use to accompany news articles.

“A black gay couple used as an image. Nice. This is a step in the right direction. #RepresentationMatters“, wrote one.

Another expressed the hope that one day such a picture would not be considered controversial, writing: “It shouldn’t have to be brave to put a picture of a couple on an article about couples, but here we are. Good on you.”

@Independent A black gay couple used as an image. Nice. This is a step in the right direction. #RepresentationMatters

— Fuck White Supremacy (@RA_TheDrummer) January 25, 2017

@Independent @indy100 Delighted to see an LGBTQI picture!

— Mick Dublin (@mick_dublin) January 25, 2017

@Independent @indy100 it shouldn’t have to be brave to put a picture of a couple on an article about couples, but here we are. Good on you.

— Stephen Belcher (@sycobuny) January 25, 2017

@Independent Awesome. More diversity in representation always!

— Kayte Terry (@kayteterry) January 25, 2017

Many took the fight to the homophobes themselves, hitting back at claims there was no reason to portray a same-sex couple alongside the story.

“Why should there be a reason? Nobody ever asks for justification of the thousands of images of straight couples we see every day”, argued one user.

Another summed it up perfectly, writing: “Two people, in a relationship, sleeping. Totally encapsulates the story.”

@SAMUEL_NIC why should there be a reason? nobody ever asks for justification of the thousands of images of straight couples we see every day

— Deane Laouadi (@deanelaouadi) January 25, 2017

@tjfromhtown @Independent Why? Why is it unnecessary? Two people, in a relationship, sleeping. Totally encapsulates the story.

— Jacob (@OhHeyJacob) January 26, 2017

Kudos to that picture editor at The Independent – keep it coming please.

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