After J.C. Penney’s June catalog hit mailboxes last week, Dallas gay couple Cooper Smith and Todd Koch have been in the middle of attacks made by One Million Moms.
In May, a lesbian couple was featured in the Mother’s Day issue, sparking another boycott from One Million Moms. The group is affiliated with the American Family Association and has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The group stated on its website last week that the public should send back the catalogs until J.C. Penney stops going “down the same path of promoting sin in their advertisements.”
The couple appeared on Daybreak with their two children this morning to discuss the negative attention and the positive support they’ve received.
“We expected some of it. We didn’t expect to go unnoticed at all,” Smith said on Daybreak. “We certainly didn’t expect the newspapers in London and all over the world to be calling and emailing and writing about this.”
Koch said the “support has been overwhelming positive” from family and friends.
In response to whether the ad reflects a new movement or the modern family, Smith said the ad “just reflects our life. We care about the exact same things any other parents care about. Are our kid safe, are they happy, are they getting to school on time and have they eaten lunch yet?”
Smith previously told Instant Tea he and Koch were asked about the One Million Moms situation before they agreed to be in the catalog in February. He said the couple was not fazed by the possible criticism and embraced representing diverse families.
“Obviously we’re not ashamed of our family,” he said. “It’s very tastefully done.”
Watch some of the news coverage below.
View more videos at: https://nbcdfw.com.
Todd and Cooper, you guys rock! Any time you are in the public spotlight, you will be subjected to criticism. I have always felt that courage conquers criticism, and you guys are setting the example that the U. S. Supreme Court needs to see when the gay marriage case is heard. (An appeals court ruled today that Prop 8 is unconstitutional and refused to reinstate it. That story has not made the Breaking News section of the Voice as of the date/time of this comment, though.) Thanks for stepping up–for all of us.
Thank you, Dallas Voice (and commenters), for the continued support! It’s been a crazy week but we couldn’t be more pleased with the reaction from people all over the world. The outpouring of support has been heart-warming.
Cooper
(The dad on the right)
Why can’t there be a group called One Million MILFs?
Thank you Todd & Cooper for the loving & secure home you are providing for your two very, very happy children. You are a shining example of the true definition of a family unit. Your children are so adorable and I send you all the best of wishes.