Governor DeSantis reaffirms Florida’s stance against Biden administration’s updated Title IX regulations, citing concerns over state sovereignty and due process rights. His declaration signals a potential clash between federal directives and state autonomy in matters of education policy.
On Thursday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) firmly declared his state’s stance against the recently revealed alterations to Title IX by the Biden administration.
In a video shared on the social platform X, DeSantis stated, “Florida outright rejects President Biden’s endeavor to amend Title IX. We stand firm in our refusal to comply and will actively oppose these changes.”
He emphasized, “We will not permit Joe Biden to interject men into women’s affairs nor undermine parental rights. Florida will not tolerate any misuse of constitutional authority to impose these policies upon us.”
Last week, the Biden administration unveiled finalized adjustments to Title IX, incorporating protections for transgender students into the federal law combating sex-based discrimination. These revisions are slated to become effective in early August.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona highlighted, “These concluding regulations uphold the spirit of Title IX, ensuring that all students across our nation have access to schools that prioritize safety, inclusivity, and the safeguarding of their rights.”
DeSantis has faced criticism from LGBTQ advocates in the past for enacting state laws perceived as detrimental to their community, including the contentious “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, which restricts discourse on LGBTQ topics within Florida’s public school system.
Last year, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest LGBTQ advocacy group in the nation, joined forces with a Florida-based LGBTQ advocacy organization to issue a cautionary advisory against traveling to Florida.
The joint travel advisory from HRC and Equality Florida expressed concerns regarding Florida’s array of laws and policies targeting fundamental freedoms and rights, which collectively pose significant risks to the well-being and safety of individuals considering relocating to or visiting the state.
Brandon Wolf, the national press secretary for HRC, conveyed in an emailed statement to The Hill, “Politicians in Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and elsewhere are already rallying to oppose crucial protections for students in American schools.”
Wolf criticized these “MAGA politicians” for prioritizing theatrics and divisive rhetoric over safeguarding the needs of their state’s students, warning that non-compliance with Title IX could result in detrimental consequences for schools, including substantial loss of funding that should be allocated towards facilitating academic success.
Jon Harris Maurer, Equality Florida’s public policy director, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that Governor DeSantis cannot disregard federal protections designed to ensure the well-being of students and families, including LGBTQ students, survivors of sexual assault and harassment, and pregnant students. Maurer affirmed their commitment to collaborating with parents across the state to create an educational environment where every student can thrive.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Education reaffirmed the department’s commitment to upholding the Title IX guarantee of nondiscrimination in schools, emphasizing that federally funded schools must adhere to the final Title IX regulations to receive federal funds.
In a memo dated Thursday and shared with The Hill, Florida’s Commissioner of Education, Manny Diaz Jr., asserted that Florida will vigorously oppose the changes to Title IX. Diaz criticized the Biden administration for what he perceived as an attempt to distort the statute, accusing them of disregarding Congress’s clear directive to prevent discrimination based on biological sex.
Arizona House votes to repeal Civil War-era abortion ban. Three GOP members defected to side with Democrats in the vote. Arizona’s governor pledges to sign if approved by the Senate.
On Wednesday, the Arizona House made a significant move by voting to repeal a long-standing ban on almost all abortions, dating back to the Civil War era, with a potential effective date as early as June 8. The legislation is now on its way to the state Senate, where it could receive final approval as soon as next week.
Originally enacted in 1864, the abortion law briefly regained relevance after the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 but was swiftly halted by judicial intervention. However, on April 9, the state’s highest court revived the law, sparking nationwide controversy and causing considerable political concern among Republicans. Many fear that the reinstated ban may negatively impact their electoral prospects this year, including in the upcoming presidential race.
Greg Abbott criticized a teacher for wearing dresses to school events, suggesting that the act was an attempt to promote the normalization of gender nonconformity.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) has expressed his intention to “eliminate” transgender and gender non-conforming educators from the educational system in his state. This declaration potentially conflicts with a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace, including on the basis of gender identity.
During a speech at the Young Conservatives of Texas convention in Dallas last Friday, Abbott cited the case of Rachmad Tjachyadi, a former teacher in Lewisville, Texas. Tjachyadi resigned in March after facing harassment from Chaya Raichik, an influencer known for spreading anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments on social media under the username “Libs of TikTok.”
Abbott recounted the situation, stating, “They had a high school teacher who was a man who would go to school dressed as a woman in a dress, high heels, and makeup.” He then questioned the impact on students’ focus in the classroom, implying that such attire might distract from the subject being taught.
Abbott persisted, emphasizing, “This individual, identifying as a man, adopting the attire of a woman within a Texas public high school, seeks to promote the acceptance of such behavior as normal.” He firmly stated, “This behavior is not acceptable, and it’s precisely what we aim to eradicate in Texas.”
In March, Raichik shared photos of Tjachyadi dressed in feminine attire during school functions, baselessly alleging a “fetish for wearing women’s clothing.”
These posts circulated among anti-LGBTQ+ circles, including Abbott, who seized on the “controversy” to advocate for school voucher programs. In an X post, he declared, “No parent should be compelled by the state to enroll their child in this school.” (Critics argue that such vouchers divert public funds away from public schools to private institutions, which may reject certain students.)
Despite over 20,000 signatures on a petition supporting Tjachyadi and an internal investigation by the Lewisville Independent School District finding no policy violations, he chose to resign. Parents lamented that targeting him ultimately disadvantaged students by depriving them of a dedicated educator.
Abbott’s vow to eradicate the presence of transgender and gender non-conforming educators contradicts the 2020 Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, which deemed anti-LGBTQ+ workplace discrimination unlawful under federal sex-based discrimination laws.
Nevertheless, Matt Rinaldi, the chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, echoed Abbott’s stance, affirming via X, “@GregAbbott_TX is absolutely correct.”
Reflecting on Abbott’s comments, trans investigative journalist Erin Reed remarked, “Many are observing whether the Republican Party will heavily rely on anti-trans politics leading up to the 2024 elections. This indicates that at least some factions in Texas might do so. However, history shows that such campaigning failed resoundingly in the 2022 and 2023 elections.”
Abbott has a long history of anti-LGBTQ+ actions
During his governorship, Abbott has made several attempts to classify gender-affirming care as a form of child abuse, aiming to empower the state to remove transgender children from supportive families. However, the state supreme court has intervened, halting the implementation of this order for numerous families that were under investigation and supportive of their transgender children.
Under Abbott’s leadership, the state has prohibited doctors from offering gender-affirming care to transgender minors, despite widespread support for such care from major medical associations in the U.S. Additionally, transgender students are barred from participating in school sports according to their gender identity, and the state government has even sought access to private medical records of transgender teenagers.
Abbott also signed a ban on drag performances last June, but by September, a judge deemed the law unconstitutional. Furthermore, he endorsed legislation banning “sexually explicit” materials in school libraries, which has been used to target LGBTQ+ literature. Additionally, he supported a law prohibiting local governments from implementing anti-discrimination measures for LGBTQ+ individuals, and he signed off on a ban on diversity programs at public universities, resulting in the elimination of LGBTQ+ spaces and HIV testing programs at these institutions.
These discriminatory policies led LGBTQ+ advocacy groups to petition for a U.N. investigation into Texas for potential human rights violations against the LGBTQ+ community.
In Houston, Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton has resolved a dispute with a children’s hospital in Washington State. Paxton had been seeking data regarding Texas patients possibly accessing gender-affirming treatment, a practice prohibited in Texas. The attorney general’s office, along with Seattle Children’s Hospital, declared a resolution on Monday. Paxton will abandon his pursuit of information on transgender patients from Texas, while the hospital will relinquish its operating license in the state. Additionally, hospital officials testified that they neither treat transgender youth from Texas on-site nor remotely.
A state law passed in September prohibits gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth, such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgery. Following a settlement with Seattle Children’s Hospital, Paxton issued the following statement:
“Seattle Children’s Hospital appeared to violate Texas law and initially attempted to avoid responsibility during the investigation. Upon our inquiries, they chose to exit Texas and forego conducting business here. Let this reaffirm our stance: medical practitioners in Texas must adhere to our regulations. We staunchly defend children in Texas from potentially harmful, experimental ‘gender transition’ interventions that could lead to significant adverse effects.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics and other leading medical associations advocate for providing transgender adolescents with access to gender-affirming medical care. Meanwhile, Paxton’s office is embroiled in a legal dispute regarding whether the state can initiate child abuse inquiries against parents who have facilitated such care for their children.
The sentiment echoed by the student resonates with the experiences of many: officials at Owasso High School turn a blind eye to bullying.
Just over two months following the tragic passing of Nex Benedict, a transgender teenager, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has unveiled a new advertisement. In it, an alum of Owasso High School recounts firsthand the culture of anti-LGBTQ+ bullying she encountered at the same school Benedict attended.
Benedict’s passing on February 8 occurred shortly after a violent altercation with three fellow students in an Owasso High School bathroom. While ruled a likely suicide by the Oklahoma state medical examiner, the incident has sparked national attention to the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ students within the Owasso school district and across Oklahoma. Benedict, described by friends as identifying as transgender and predominantly using he/him pronouns, had reported being targeted by the three students, who allegedly assaulted him because of his gender identity until he lost consciousness.
LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have condemned both the school and the Owasso Police Department for their handling of the altercation preceding Nex Benedict’s tragic passing, as well as the pervasive culture of anti-LGBTQ+ bullying reported by current and former students. In February, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Kelley Robinson urged Attorney General Merrick Garland to initiate a Department of Justice investigation into Benedict’s death. Robinson also reached out to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, urging the department to utilize its enforcement tools to prevent similar tragedies in the future. In March, the U.S. Department of Education announced an investigation into the Owasso Public School District.
The HRC advertisement, unveiled on Monday, features Marley H., a 2022 Owasso graduate, who sheds light on school officials’ neglect in addressing anti-LGBTQ+ bullying. Recounting an incident on a school trip, Marley describes a teacher’s refusal to intervene when another student repeatedly used derogatory language targeting her and her peers.
“It’s painful to realize that not only do your teachers fail to support you personally, but if a student bullies, harasses, or belittles you, they won’t take action,” she shares. “It fosters an environment where reporting issues feels futile.”
Addressing teachers who turn a blind eye to bullying and harassment, Marley emphasizes, “Consider the consequences faced by students like Nex Benedict. That’s the severity of the situation. That’s the result when you witness something and remain silent.”
Marley’s testimony echoes the sentiments of other current and former Owasso students who participated in a walkout in late February. Despite Owasso Public Schools’ official prohibition of bullying in its student conduct code, students told NBC News they were unaware of the district’s bullying policies and doubted the school’s willingness to address complaints.
“Even if an incident occurs, there’s no incentive to approach administrators or teachers because nothing will change,” remarked Ally, a senior at Owasso and a friend of Benedict’s. “I’ve witnessed this repeatedly with my friends.”
Marley points out a “trickle-down effect,” wherein students are exposed to anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric from their parents, who, in turn, hear similar rhetoric from Oklahoma Republicans advocating anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. “These children hear their parents’ words. And these children go to school. The rhetoric passed down from elected officials to parents to children then impacts entire school districts.”
At the forefront of these elected officials is Oklahoma’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters (R), known for his anti-LGBTQ+ stance. Even prior to Benedict’s tragic passing gaining national attention, Walters faced criticism from both Republican and Democratic state lawmakers for appointing Chaya Raichik, the figure behind the anti-LGBTQ+ platform “Libs of TikTok,” to Oklahoma’s library advisory committee in January.
Following Benedict’s death, a letter dated February 28 addressed to the Oklahoma state legislature, signed by over 350 public figures and LGBTQ+ rights groups, called for Walters’ removal. Additionally, in March, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) initiated “Walters Watch,” a campaign aimed at holding Walters accountable for what the organization perceives as his “extremist rhetoric and mismanagement of Oklahoma schools,” contributing to a climate of anti-LGBTQ+ bullying and harassment.
Kelley Robinson, in a statement, acknowledged the courage of students from Owasso and elsewhere in Oklahoma who have spoken out against bullying and harassment perpetuated by figures like Ryan Walters. Robinson emphasized Marley’s story as both heartbreaking and enraging, asserting that there is a path forward. She emphasized the importance of speaking out against injustices, making it harder for the truth to be ignored. Robinson concluded that the first step towards healing is for Ryan Walters to step down.
For those in crisis or in need of support, assistance is available. You can call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. The Trans Lifeline (1-877-565-8860) offers support staffed by transgender individuals without involving law enforcement. The Trevor Project provides a safe and judgment-free platform for youth to chat, text (678-678), or call (1-866-488-7386). Support is offered in both English and Spanish at all three resources.
One expert warned that if the bill were to pass, it would have a “catastrophic” impact on Iraq’s relations with the West.
Last week, Iraq’s Parliament deferred a scheduled vote on a harsh anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that could have led to the death penalty for same-sex acts. The proposed bill, intended as an amendment to an existing anti-prostitution law, was slated as the second item on the agenda during last Monday’s parliamentary session, as reported by Reuters. However, due to time constraints and disagreements over amendments, the vote was postponed, as indicated by two sources.
Beyond prescribing the death penalty or life imprisonment for same-sex relations, the bill also stipulates a minimum seven-year prison term for “promoting homosexuality,” a term left undefined in the legislation. Furthermore, it specifically targets transgender women, proposing up to three years in prison and fines for “imitating women,” according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).
While consensual gay sex is not explicitly prohibited by current law in Iraq, vague “morality” clauses in the country’s penal code are often used to target LGBTQ+ individuals. A joint report by HRW and the Iraqi LGBTQ+ rights group IraQueer in March 2022 highlighted widespread violence against LGBTQ+ individuals by police and other armed groups in the predominantly Muslim nation, with perpetrators often going unpunished. Iraq was among five Middle Eastern and North African countries examined in a 2023 report, which explored how state actors and private individuals exploit social media and dating apps to entrap and extort LGBTQ+ individuals.
Last August, Iraq’s media regulator banned the term “homosexuality,” mandating that traditional and social media platforms replace it with “sexual deviance.”
The bill to amend Iraq’s “Law on Combatting Prostitution” was introduced in the same month by independent Member of Parliament Raad Al-Maliki. Al-Maliki argued that the legislation was necessary to “preserve the integrity of Iraqi society from deviance and the propagation of ‘paraphilia’ [abnormal sexual impulses] that have spread worldwide.”
Rasha Younes, senior LGBT rights researcher at HRW, expressed concern about the proposed anti-LGBT law, stating, “Iraq’s proposed anti-LGBT law would endanger the lives of Iraqis who already face a hostile environment for being LGBT. Iraqi lawmakers are sending a disturbing message to LGBT individuals that their speech is criminal and their lives are expendable.”
According to HRW, the proposed bill not only contradicts nondiscrimination and privacy protections enshrined in the Iraqi constitution but also violates international human rights law.
Reuters noted that the postponement of last Monday’s vote coincided with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s scheduled meeting with President Joe Biden in Washington. The meeting was reportedly aimed at discussing increased U.S. investment in Iraq.
Simultaneously, diplomats from three Western countries informed Reuters that they had urged Iraqi lawmakers not to pass the anti-LGBTQ+ bill. One senior diplomat remarked, “It would be very difficult to justify working closely with such a state at home. We were very, very direct: if this law is passed in its current form, it would have catastrophic consequences for our bilateral business, trade relations.”
Renowned author Maulik Pancholy had plans to address middle school students, however,…
The Mountain View Middle School in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, recently made headlines as the school board unanimously decided to cancel actor Maulik Pancholy’s planned anti-bullying presentation for middle school students. The reason cited was Pancholy’s gay identity and lifestyle. In response, some members of the community are advocating for the board to reverse its decision.
Pancholy, a renowned gay Indian-American comedic actor and author, gained acclaim for his 2022 book “Nikhil Out Loud,” which addresses combating homophobic bullying. His book received the 2023 Lambda Literary Award for Middle Grade Literature. Scheduled to speak at Mountain View Middle School, Pancholy, also known for his advocacy work, including serving on President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, is recognized for his public engagements on topics like diversity and inclusion.
However, during an April 15 public meeting of the Cumberland Valley School District’s school board, board member Bud Shaffner expressed opposition to Pancholy’s talk, arguing, “If you research this individual, he labels himself as an activist, he is proud of his lifestyle and I don’t think that should be imposed upon our students at any age.”
Another member of the board, Kelly Potteiger, who is affiliated with the local chapter of the right-wing activist group Moms for Liberty, echoed Shaffner’s concerns. She expressed apprehension that Pancholy might discuss his 2019 children’s book, “The Best at It,” which features a gay, Indian-American child. “It’s not discriminating against his lifestyle — that’s his choice,” Potteiger remarked while elucidating her stance against Pancholy. “It’s him speaking about it [that’s the problem].”
Shaffner shared with NBC News his concern that the actor might veer off-topic and delve into politics. “Politically motivated discussions belong at home and not in the classroom,” Shaffner emphasized. “A number of board members went to his website and what stuck out to all of us is that he’s a political activist.”
Following these objections, the school board voted 8-0 to cancel Pancholy’s talk. Notably, discussion of the talk wasn’t an official part of the board’s stated meeting agenda, depriving community members of the opportunity to comment on the matter beforehand.
In an open letter directed to Shaffner, 40-year-old community member Tony Conte disclosed feeling “desperately lonely” as a closeted, bullied student in middle and high school. He recounted the tragic suicide of one of his similarly bullied classmates. “I think that if I had heard from diverse voices like [Pancholy’s] in an auditorium setting telling me that it was okay to be different maybe my middle and high school experience could have been different,” Conte wrote. “A presentation of this sort could have saved a life, like the life of my friend.”
Conte questioned Shaffner and the board’s decision by drawing a parallel with hypothetical presentations by CEOs of major companies who happen to be gay. “If the CEO of Apple, the CEO of Dow, the CEO of Macy’s, or the CEO of Land O’Lakes wanted to host a presentation for middle school students in the [Cumberland Valley] district about treating each other with kindness and respect, would you also cancel their presentations because all of those high performing professionals are gay and proud of the lifestyle they lead?” Conte asked, urging Shaffner and the board to reconsider their stance.
Community member Trisha Comstock, a parent with two children in the school district, initiated a Change.org petition urging the board to reverse its decision. “Being LGBTQ+ isn’t a dirty little secret to protect our students from. To have someone with Maulik’s life experiences would have been inspirational for our students,” Comstock stated. “The cancellation of this assembly sends a harmful message to our students – that being different is something to be ashamed of or hidden away. We must challenge this narrative.”
Gov. Katie Hobbs reiterated her stance, stating firmly, “I will consistently refuse to endorse any legislation that undermines the interests of Arizonans.”
On Tuesday, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs (D) vetoed 13 Republican bills, among them Senate Bill 1628, dubbed the “Arizona Women’s Bill of Rights,” which LGBTQ+ advocates argue would have marginalized transgender individuals by altering legal recognition in the state.
Introduced by state Senator Sine Kerr (R) in February, SB 1628 mirrored legislation proposed in other states such as Indiana and Iowa. It aimed to substitute the term “gender” with “sex” in state law, defining the latter strictly in biological terms. The proposed bill sought to interpret gender-specific terms such as “boy,” “girl,” “man,” “woman,” “mother,” and “father” based solely on biological sex. Additionally, it would have prohibited transgender individuals from accessing single-sex facilities like bathrooms, locker rooms, sports teams, and domestic violence shelters that do not correspond to their assigned sex at birth.
Critics contended that the bill’s passage would have effectively erased the presence of transgender and nonbinary individuals from public life in Arizona.
In February, State Senator Eva Burch (D) voiced her strong opposition to the attempt to marginalize transgender individuals, stating, “This effort to erase trans people and try to force them to fit into boxes that they don’t fit into is totally unacceptable to me.” She emphasized her concern not for transgender individuals themselves but for the consequences of continued mistreatment toward them.
Hugo Polanco from the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona highlighted the potential harm of SB 1628, warning that it would have hindered transgender individuals from obtaining accurate legal documents reflecting their gender identity. He stressed the importance of such documents for everyone, including transgender individuals, emphasizing that IDs should accurately represent individuals’ identities.
Earlier this month, the Arizona Republican-controlled House of Representatives narrowly passed SB 1628 in a 31–28 vote along party lines. Despite this, Governor Hobbs, who had previously expressed her opposition to the bill, vetoed it, reaffirming her commitment to protecting the interests of Arizonans.
This isn’t the first instance of Governor Hobbs vetoing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. In April 2023, she vetoed S.B. 1005, aimed at permitting parents to sue school districts over LGBTQ+ supportive policies. Similarly, in May 2023, she vetoed S.B. 1001, which proposed requiring transgender and nonbinary students to obtain parental consent to use pronouns and names matching their gender identity. Moreover, in June 2023, she vetoed two bills targeting LGBTQ+ rights, one concerning restroom use by transgender students and another described as a veiled attempt to censor literature.
Governor Hobbs also took proactive steps in support of LGBTQ+ rights. In June 2023, she signed two executive orders, one allowing state employee health insurance plans to cover gender-affirming surgery and another banning state agencies from endorsing or funding “conversion therapy.”
LGBTQ+ advocates persist in urging for an autonomous inquiry into Benedict’s passing.
Tulsa County District Attorney Stephen Kunzweiler announced this week that no criminal charges would be pursued in the case of Nex Benedict’s death, referring to the altercation leading to Benedict’s demise as “mutual combat.” Benedict, a 16-year-old high school sophomore, passed away on February 8 following a confrontation with three alleged bullies the previous day, during which Benedict reported experiencing a momentary loss of consciousness. Kunzweiler, in a press release Thursday using Benedict’s former name, stated that after reviewing police reports, both Benedict and the assailants had been engaging in mutual antagonism for several days prior to the altercation, making juvenile charges untenable.
The District Attorney further referenced the pending report from the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, indicating that the autopsy did not reveal any internal injuries consistent with causing Benedict’s death. Instead, Kunzweiler reiterated the preliminary determination that Benedict died from a combined overdose of diphenhydramine and fluoxetine, commonly known as Benadryl and Prozac respectively. While medical experts acknowledge such overdoses are rare, they are not without precedent.
Despite Kunzweiler’s stance, LGBTQ+ advocates and Benedict’s family remain skeptical as more details emerge. The Benedict family’s legal representation, Biby Law Firm, released a statement last week containing additional autopsy findings, including injuries contradicting claims that the assault on Nex was insignificant. These injuries reportedly include lacerations, hemorrhages, and bruising across Benedict’s body.
Amid mounting concerns, suspicions over the credibility of the official autopsy escalated following revelations about the unaccredited status of Oklahoma’s Chief Medical Examiner’s Office since 2009. Advocates have also criticized state Superintendent for Public Instruction Ryan Walters, alleging his anti-trans stance and support for controversial figures created an unsafe environment for LGBTQ+ students in Oklahoma.
GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis condemned various authorities involved in the case, calling for an independent investigation into Benedict’s death and holding leaders accountable for serving their communities with fairness and compassion.
Experts elucidate the potential benefits for right-wing actors in emphasizing the perceived threat posed by transgender individuals.
On February 11, an incident unfolded at a Houston megachurch where a 36-year-old woman named Gennesse Moreno opened fire, causing injuries to two individuals. As news outlets rushed to cover the event, another investigation brewed on social media: far-right influencers honing in on any information to support the assertion that Moreno was transgender.
Among them was Chaya Raichik, a far-right activist known for her sizable following of almost four million across various social media platforms under the moniker “Libs of TikTok.” Within less than 24 hours of the incident, Raichik began disseminating false claims that the shooter was transgender, insinuating that transgender individuals were becoming violent extremists.
“Another act of trans terrorism,” Raichik posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We need to have a national conversation about the LGBTQ movement turning youth into violent extremists.”
Public figures such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, Sen. Ted Cruz, and Elon Musk also weighed in, with Musk suggesting a correlation between “hormone injections” and violence. Fox News initially ran a story asserting that Moreno had “lived as a man,” although it later revised the article. Despite police clarifications at a press briefing stating no evidence suggesting Moreno was transgender, anti-trans pundits persisted in their claims.
This incident isn’t an isolated one. Far-right influencers frequently seize upon unconfirmed details about perpetrators of mass shootings to fabricate narratives demonizing transgender individuals. Following a shooting by Dylan Butler in an Iowa school in January, Raichik, Musk, and Donald Trump Jr. propagated unverified theories suggesting Butler was transgender. Reports indicate that far-right figures fixated on Butler’s social media content containing Pride flags, multiple pronouns, and pro-LGBTQ+ messaging, using these as supposed evidence that transgender individuals are prone to senseless violence.
Donald Trump Jr. questioned whether any group worldwide could rival radicalized trans activists in terms of violence per capita. In a separate post, Raichik suggested that the media would suppress a story involving a genderfluid individual who perpetrated a school shooting.
These extremist narratives, fueled by far-right ideologies, emerge amidst a surge of anti-LGBTQ+ disinformation. Politicians and influencers propagate debunked falsehoods about LGBTQ+ individuals grooming children, endangering women in restrooms, and introducing explicit content into school libraries. Experts observe that such rhetoric is a deliberate component of coordinated efforts to portray trans individuals as a menace to public safety. Despite attempts to debunk these conspiracies, they persist and influence public opinion.
Ari Drennen, LGBTQ program director at Media Matters, condemns this fearmongering tactic employed by right-wing media outlets. She asserts that there is no empirical basis to suggest that trans individuals are more prone to committing mass shootings. Instead, it serves as clickbait to manipulate audiences.
Statistics reveal that the overwhelming majority of mass shootings are perpetrated by cisgender men. Even conservative estimates, like those provided by The Violence Project, underscore this fact, with only a negligible percentage attributed to trans individuals. Mark Bryant, Executive Director of the Gun Violence Archive, corroborates this, stating that the involvement of trans or LGBTQ+ individuals in mass shootings is minimal.
Yotam Ophir, an assistant professor specializing in gun violence, dismisses claims of a surge in LGBTQ or trans-related violence as baseless. He argues that such assertions are propagated by the far right to divert attention from their own culpability, emphasizing the systemic dissemination of misinformation by these groups.
Ari Drennen notes that such misinformation has historically circulated within fringe online communities like 4chan, notorious for its offensive content. However, it’s only recently that these unfounded “theories” have gained traction in mainstream discourse, notably following the tragic shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville last year. During this incident, a 28-year-old individual took the lives of three adults and three children.
In the aftermath of the shooting, both far-right personalities and mainstream media outlets eagerly seized upon unverified speculation that the shooter might identify as transgender. Conservative pundits used the incident to cast doubt on the mental stability of transgender individuals, while many news organizations grappled with how, or even whether, to address the shooter’s potential transgender identity in their coverage.
Journalists, in particular, faced challenges in accurately identifying the shooter without verified information. This case underscored the difficulty in confirming personal details about transgender individuals, especially in the absence of official sources and considering the common misgendering and deadnaming by law enforcement. In the Nashville shooting, reports regarding the shooter’s gender identity relied on accounts from former teachers and, eventually, the police, who asserted the shooter was transgender but declined to disclose the basis for their conclusion.
Following the media frenzy surrounding the shooting, the Trans Journalists Association (TJA), of which the writer is the board secretary, issued guidance advising caution in sharing unverified information, especially from law enforcement, particularly in rapidly unfolding news events.
“We urge newsrooms to refrain from speculation without corroborating facts,” stated TJA in a released statement. “It’s crucial to recognize that disseminating incomplete, unverified, or contextually lacking information and public records during breaking news events can disproportionately harm marginalized communities.”
This guidance was put to the test a few months later when outlets such as Vice and Teen Vogue denounced efforts to spread anti-trans misinformation following a July 2023 shooting in Philadelphia. Police arrested Kimbrady Carriker after he carried out seemingly random shootings, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to two others. Far-right figures exploited photos of Carriker wearing long hair and stereotypically feminine attire to advance similarly unfounded claims about his gender identity.
Media outlets such as the Associated Press and Reuters have begun to confront and refute such misinformation. However, experts like Jon Lewis, a research fellow at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, caution that debunking alone may not fully mitigate the harm initially caused. Lewis explains that while debunking can establish a factual record and dispel falsehoods within the general populace, it often fails to halt the dissemination of misinformation within online communities sympathetic to its narrative. This challenge is particularly pronounced within far-right circles, where there is a deep-seated distrust of mainstream media.
Lewis emphasizes the ineffectiveness of fact-checking in countering conspiracy theories, noting that by the time debunking articles are published, the damage may already be done. He illustrates this point by highlighting instances where violent threats have been made against institutions before corrective information can be disseminated.
This persistent dissemination of anti-trans narratives by the far right has prompted some extremism experts to employ terms like “stochastic terrorism” to describe this particular form of campaign.
Ophir, Lewis, and other experts assert that the spread of anti-trans misinformation about mass shooters serves two primary purposes that align with conservative agendas, especially during contentious election cycles where trans rights are a focal point. Firstly, scapegoating trans individuals provides ammunition for far-right figures in their campaign against the legitimacy of trans identities. Secondly, it enables them to divert attention from issues such as gun control while sidestepping accountability for their own role in fostering extremist ideologies.
Numerous mass shootings, including those in El Paso, Texas; Buffalo, New York; Charleston, South Carolina; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have involved perpetrators who espoused racist, anti-Semitic, and homophobic ideologies often associated with the far right. In the case of the Philadelphia shooting, Carriker expressed support for Donald Trump online. However, right-wing activists seldom acknowledge the ideological commonalities between these shooters and their own rhetoric.
Ophir underscores the dangerous implications of portraying LGBTQ+ individuals as inherently violent or threatening to society, arguing that such narratives serve to justify discriminatory legislation and even acts of violence against them.
Although this strain of rhetoric may appear distinct from other anti-trans arguments, such as those opposing gender-affirming care or trans participation in sports, Ari Drennen asserts that it is all interconnected within a broader conservative agenda to eradicate queer and trans individuals from public life, whether through legislative means or through tactics like stochastic terrorism. Drennen underscores a historical continuum, tracing back to the conservative activism epitomized by Anita Bryant’s “Save Our Children” campaign in the 1970s, which finds echoes in contemporary right-wing discourse.
“Throughout this ongoing anti-trans hysteria, we witness a gradual escalation of stakes,” Drennen explains. “Initially, it’s framed as trans individuals posing a threat to your daughter’s chances of securing a college scholarship. Subsequently, it morphs into the notion that trans individuals are actively attempting to ‘turn’ your child trans. And now, having failed to achieve their desired impact, the narrative has shifted to portraying trans individuals as a threat to personal safety in any setting.”
This progression underscores a deliberate strategy aimed at heightening fear and animosity toward trans individuals, perpetuated by conservative forces seeking to stoke societal anxieties and marginalize LGBTQ+ communities.
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