#HetrosexualPrideDay hashtag sparks anger on Twitter days after global Gay Pride parades

Debate on social media after straight pride questioned by users.

Istanbul pride — A gay couple kisses during the Gay Pride parade on 28 June 2015 in the Istiklal street near the Taksim square in Istanbul. OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images

Heterosexual Pride has sparked debate on Twitter as social media users questioned why straight people needed a day to be celebrated.

Coming just days after LGBTQ Pride weekend in London, Straight Pride day (29 June) was started years ago and has been associated with homophobia - causing a backlash on Twitter as #heterosexualpride began trending.

The term has been described as a response to Gay Pride, although several users on Twitter said it was not an anti-gay movement but a celebration of their being straight while others pointed out straight people had been victimised in the past.

Except the straight wedding cake bakers. #HeteroSexualPrideDay https://t.co/w27XGtXncw
— Rantor (@T2Rantor) June 29, 2016

But LGBTQ people and allies took to Twitter in droves mocking the need for a heterosexual pride day with a series of memes, pictures and tweets.

#HeterosexualPrideDay pic.twitter.com/JAgoArvqPF
— Dr. Hack N. Bush MD (@DocHackenbush) June 29, 2016

#HeterosexualPrideDay pic.twitter.com/S7zS0Uush6
— Wesley Luan (@Oeslei_) June 29, 2016

However, the majority of Tweets - and the reason behind the hashtag trending - were from people who were questioning the need for a heterosexual pride day, or, in meta-tweets, questioning why the hashtag was trending.

Twitter