Irish Senator’s clumsy message to gay colleague sparks Twitter trend
An Irish Senator has accidentally sparked a Twitter trend – after using an unusual choice of hashtag to congratulate a gay colleague.
Ireland’s Minister for Health Leo Varadkar came out as gay yesterday, saying that he did not want to be seen as having a “hidden agenda” during his ministerial work.
However, independent Senator Fidelma Healy Eames stole some of the limelight, when she wrote a good natured tweet to congratulate her colleague.
The former FG politician wrote: “#Leo Varadkar has shown a lot of courage to come out. I wish him luck. #sexualorientation”
#Leo Varadkar has shown a lot of courage to come out. I wish him luck. #sexualorientation
— Fidelma Healy Eames (@senhealyeames) January 18, 2015
More Twitter-savvy politicos began to question her choice of ‘#sexualorientation’ hashtag.
@senhealyeames need to work on your hashtag game #hashtaggame — Dean Van Nguyen (@deanvannguyen) January 18, 2015
Hashtag gold. I’m crying here. RT @senhealyeames: #Leo Varadkar has shown a lot of courage to come out. I wish him luck. #sexualorientation
— Karl H (@karlypants) January 18, 2015
@senhealyeames I’m confused. Do you mean #sexualorienteering?
— John (@AnGobanSaor) January 19, 2015
And then it began to trend, and took on a life of its own.
Wearing two pairs of socks today. #sexualorientation — Adrian+Shane (@AdrianAndShane) January 19, 2015
Oh how very Monday. Train cancelled. #monday #sexualorientation
— Elliot Tucker (@elliottucker) January 19, 2015
is it lunchtime yet? cheese or ham sandwiches today? #sexualorientation — Lorna Mac (@Ma_gooo) January 19, 2015
Why didn’t I actually eat lunch today? #sexualorientation — Heisenberg (@HeisenbergMUFC) January 19, 2015
An afternoon stroll in the beautiful Iveagh Gardens #sexualorientation pic.twitter.com/BBiy0F7iT6
— Stephen Kelly (@stephentkelly) January 19, 2015
We’ve been peeing all day. #sexualorientation — Adrian+Shane (@AdrianAndShane) January 19, 2015
Although most people outside the Republic of Ireland were more like this:
OK, Irish Twitter, explain this #sexualorientation thing to me. I am *lost*. — Auntie Ellen (@ellenfromnowon) January 18, 2015
