Visual exercise - The simple evil behind the 'gays are grooming kids' narrative

 

An image from an old religious tract shows the 'gays groom kids' lie. 

In spite of claims to the contrary, the narrative that the LGBTQ community - particularly the trans community - are looking to "sexualize" or "groom" kids is not a new one. It's an old lie and it's been very successful throughout the years.  Unfortunately, nowadays it has been refurbished by social media influencers and believed by people who have no knowledge of or are willfully ignorant of the many avenues social conservatives employ to use it.

First of all, claiming that certain parties want to harm kids is an old canard used against so many other groups, including Jewish people.

From the handout, Echoes and Reflections:

Taken from the children’s book, The Poisonous Mushroom, the caption in this picture reads: “Here my little one, you get something very sweet, but as a reward you both must come with me.” This caricature portrays an elderly Jew trying to tempt small children with candy. It relies on one of the basic fears of all parents and the common instruction to little children not to take candy from a stranger. There are links made between “a stranger,” “danger,” “poison,” and “a Jew.” The Jew is portrayed as a dark, evil, threatening, manipulative stranger, as opposed to the innocent, pure, naïve Aryan children.

Exploiting parental fears while denigrating LGBTQ people as dangerous outsiders who are up to no good, much like is done in the graphic above, is a hallmark tactics in anti-LGBTQ propaganda. However, there are some differences. It can be blatant.

Hidden behind religious belief.

Or even behind the guise of statistics (which are usually lies or deliberately taken out of context).

But the most dangerous and possibly successful use of the "LGBTQ people are grooming children" narrative is when it's subtle. That's when social conservatives don't outright and accuse LGBTQ people of pedophilia or grooming. Instead, they imply that kids will be harmed by any law or action created to benefit the LGBTQ community. 

Such as marriage equality

Non-discrimination ordinances

Allowing trans kids to be able to safely use school restrooms

Any pro-LGBTQ action, even those which would benefit the safety of LGBTQ kids.

The point is the stuff you hear about from social conservatives and wannabe social media influencers is general bullshit. It has less to do with protecting kids and more to do with exploiting ignorance and fears.

Some graphics taken from Chick Publications and Comics with Problems

'Indiana's 'don't say gay' bill will be challenged in court' & other Tue midday news briefs

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11 Republican Presidential Hopefuls and Their Awful Anti-LGBTQ+ Records - If any one of them gets into the White House, we are in trouble. 

‘I don’t want to talk to the gay one’: LGBTQ teachers say they are fighting erasure in their own classrooms - Trying to hard to erase us. 

Garth Brooks Refuses to Boycott Bud Light at His Nashville Bar​- This promises to be interesting.