IRISH EXAMINER, IRISH INDEPENDENT, IRISH TIMES (Ireland)
DUBLIN – A teen charity funded by the government-backed Irish Health Board has come under scrutiny after publishing tips on how young people can explore having a ménage à trois.
Irish Member of Parliament Michelle Mulherin has accused the state-funded organization SpunOut of publishing inappropriate content, including advice about choosing sex partners for threesomes, reports the Irish Times.
The article advised any young person participating in such activity to choose someone they do not have strong feelings for, as threesomes should be saved “for a bit of fun.” It also said that threesomes are “fun” and can “spice things up,” while warning they can also cause a relationship to end badly.
According to the Irish Independent, the youth organization SpunOut receives 124,000 euros in annual public funding, and offers advice to 16-25 year olds on a wide range of issues. SpunOut’s spokesperson Ian Power said that the article was published at least three years ago, but was only highlighted now.
He added that it as written by a former editor who was American and had “liberal views on sex.”
In a statement on the website they wrote: “We do not promote threesomes; we arm young people with the facts about them. Education needs to begin earlier than the age of first sex and it is widely accepted that sexual education in Irish schools is both of poor quality and inconsistent. SpunOut believes in the ability of young people to make the right decision for themselves once they have access to quality and reliable information, such as the information provided by our website.”
Health Minister James Reilly spoke out on Monday, saying that discussion about “threesomes” on a government-funded website is not an appropriate use of public resources, reports the Irish Examiner.
In the traditionally Catholic country, #threesomes was trending in Ireland on Twitter on Monday, as well as #liveline — a popular radio talk show that brought up the issue. Here are some of the top tweets:
Of course, this obsession with #threesomes is only natural for a country getting royally screwed by a Troika.
— Joe O’Shea (@josefoshea) March 25, 2013
In Catholic Ireland, #threesomes used to mean the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. #liveline
— Jim T Duffy (@JimTDuffy) March 25, 2013
I think it’s safe to say that no one in Government would have predicted #threesomes being the main issue of the day #SpunOut
— James O’Sullivan (@JamesOSullivan1) March 25, 2013
Joe now comparing threesomes to heroin. Is it that addictive? #Threesomes
— Michael Clifford (@Mickcliff) March 25, 2013
“What chance have our young people got?” says woman in tears on #liveline at #threesomes :-0
— Colette Browne (@colettebrowne) March 25, 2013
#liveline “Joe I don’t want anyone telling my children the things I want to pretend don’t exist”
— Matthew Mulligan (@_mattuna) March 25, 2013
