The LGBTQ+ community is facing a growing wave of violence and intimidation in recent years, particularly for Black transgender women. Anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes have accounted for nearly one in five of all hate crimes motivated by bias. There have been at least 174 anti-LGBTQ+ demonstrations across the country, according to a report from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). The core narratives driving these attacks include disinformation about gender-affirming care, false allegations of “grooming” children, and the indoctrination of a “so-called LGBTQ+ agenda” in schools.
Right-wing media outlets and personalities, such as Fox News and Tucker Carlson, have played a major role in spreading dangerous and false narratives that further marginalize the LGBTQ+ community. Social media accounts like LibsOfTikTok have also used their influence to push out baseless tropes and conspiracy theories, which are picked up by right-wing media figures and politicians. Right-wing content about trans kids’ health care often receives high engagement, with a study finding that content from right-leaning sources “earned nearly two times the engagement of all other sources combined.”
Groups like Gays Against Groomers have profited from spreading dangerous narratives attacking the LGBTQ+ community. In the aftermath of the January 6 attack on the Capitol, far-right extremist groups have focused on different cultural and racial issues, trying to regain momentum, but opposition to LGBTQ+ equality has proven to have the “same staying power.”
It is important to counteract these false narratives and disinformation by promoting accurate information and amplifying the voices of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.
Anti-LGBTQ+ violence and hate crimes have increased in recent years, particularly targeting Black transgender women, and nearly one in five hate crimes are motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias, according to the Human Rights Campaign. There has been a nationwide surge of at least 174 anti-LGBTQ+ demonstrations, according to a report by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). The narratives driving these attacks include disinformation about gender-affirming care for LGBTQ+ youth, false allegations of “grooming” children, and the alleged indoctrination of a so-called LGBTQ+ agenda in schools, according to Sarah Moore, an Anti-LGBTQ+ Extremism Analyst at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
Republican-controlled state houses across the country have introduced a record 315 discriminatory anti-LGBTQ+ bills, with a majority targeting the transgender and non-binary communities. The Arkansas Senate has advanced Senate Bill 43, an anti-LGBTQ+ bill that restricts drag performances and classifies them as adult-oriented businesses, prohibiting anyone under 18 from watching.
Social media accounts with high followings have played a major role in spreading dangerous and false narratives that further marginalize the LGBTQ+ community. Libs of TikTok, for example, is pushing baseless tropes and conspiracy theories online, which gain traction after being picked up by far-right media personalities.
Narratives promoted by LibsOfTikTok have been picked up by right-wing media figures and politicians, including Tucker Carlson, Glenn Greenwald, Ron DeSantis, and Marjorie Taylor Greene. Carlson has dedicated Fox News segments to attacking the LGBTQ+ community and even invited anti-trans author Abigail Shrier to spread misinformation about medical care for transgender people on his show. Despite a lack of expertise on the topic, individuals like Shrier drive views and engagement, as a Media Matters study found that content about trans issues from right-leaning sources earned nearly two times the engagement of all other sources combined on Facebook.
In the aftermath of the January 6 attack on the Capitol, far-right extremist groups have focused on issues like Critical Race Theory and abortion, but opposition to LGBTQ+ equality has had the “same staying power,” according to Sam Jones, head of communications at ACLED.
