Nikon releases ad starring same-sex couple and their family

Last year, Kordale and Kaleb Lewis were surprised by a sudden stream of "likes" on a simple picture that they posted on Instagram. The photo showed the two fathers, early in the morning, doing their daughters' hair in preparation for the school day. The family, who live in Atlanta, Georgia, watched in amazement as the post quickly went viral, becoming an image of love, commitment, and family.

Yesterday, Nikon released a new ad that stars the Lewis family, and gives a voice to their photos. In the video, the fathers describe their mornings, and talk about their responsibilities as parents. "We just want people to know that we're normal," Kordel said. "Parents that can get up at 5:30 and do their daughters' hair, no matter who they are -- that's a family."

"We as parents bring kids into the world, and we have to guide them to be better people than we are, and we want them to be better people than we are, and we want them to succeed and do things that we weren't able to do," Kaleb said. "Those kids have our heart." Kaleb and Kordale are currently unmarried in Georgia, which is one of 14 states that does not respect marriages between same-sex couples.

Freedom to Marry commends Nikon for this ad, which is important in establishing that loving, committed same sex couples can be wonderful, attentive, and warm parents. When companies release ads that show positive portrayals of same sex couples, it helps further the conversation that families with same sex parents are no different from any other.

Nikon Generation Image "Kordale & Kaleb" from Paul La Calandra on Vimeo.