This picture of Justin Trudeau is not quite what it seems – but that hasn’t stopped thousands sharing it
A picture of the Canadian leader embracing a fellow politician has been shared over 20,000 times.
The image shows Trudeau kissing NDP leader Tom Mulcair. The story’s headline declares that the two are “united against homophobia,” in the light of the mass shooting in Orlando.
However, the image is in fact a fake – although that has not stopped Trudeau’s fans sharing it anyway.
The article was published on JournalDeMourreal.com, a satirical Quebec website.
“After an event like this, we had to do something,” it – falsely – quotes Trudeau as saying in French.
“I approached Tom to see what he thought, but I didn’t expect him to be so enthusiastic.”
The fake story has so far received over 20,000 likes, shares and comments on Facebook and continues to spread throughout French-speaking countries.
The fake photo was even tweeted by the mayor of a borough in Paris.
“When the prime minister of Canada kisses the leader of the opposition to symbolise universal sexual freedom after Orlando,” he wrote.
Right-wingers recently gave the Canadian PM a new job title for his continued backing of LGBT equality – the Prime Minister of the Homosexuals.
Prime Minister Trudeau – who came to power in Canada last year – has put equality at the heart of his leadership: appointing a diverse, expert-led gender-balanced cabinet, speaking out against homophobia, and becoming the first Canadian PM to march at Pride.
He also made history by flying a rainbow flag from Parliament Hill, and announced a raft of new trans rights protections that will bolster anti-discrimination laws on the grounds of gender identity.
