Gay Couple Eyes Lawsuit After Finding Pic on 'Hate Group' Mailer
By freymind
@freymind (1351)
Philippines
July 16, 2012 4:31am CST
The couple, Brian Edwards and Tom Privitere, a New Jersey couple married in 2010, were horrified when a photo of them kissing at their engagement party was altered and turned up in an anti-gay unions mailer 2,000 miles away.
The photo was used by the Public Advocate of the United States. The couple said "We were heartbroken to see that our picture that was taken to represent love and family, and our values, and to share with other LGBT couples, was used for complete opposite purposes to induce fear and spread hate and bigotry," he said.
Its sad that their happy photo of their union was used for a different purpose.
I just hope people will be responsible enough to use photos on the right way and ask permission first.
The couple will be suing the Public Advocate if they don't stop using the photo in anti-gay mailer.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
16 Jul 12
I think it isn't proper for someone to just use a photo of someone else to advocate anything regardless if it's something anti- or pro-. It's sad that the couple had to go through such an ordeal but I guess they're right into suing the group for falsely using a photo that is not theirs in the first place.
We all have the right to advocate something but there should be a limit as to what we could do about it. We should always respect an individual, even if their beliefs are not the same with ours.
Have a great MyLot experience ahead!
@freymind (1351)
• Philippines
16 Jul 12
Yes I totally agree with you. Nobody has the right to use something which is not their own.
Besides its horrible to use a very happy photo for a different advocate not being tolerated by the parties involved (couple).
I hope they win the case if they are going to pursue it.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Jul 12
This couple really should sue on behalf of the way that their picture was used. Now, I understand that there is a chance that the picture was originally taken by a professional photographer that did retain all of the printing rights to the picture and that does mean that they are allowed to sell the image for their own gain in the future. But to sell the picture for a use such as this is slander and the photographer should be sued as well.
