American far-right and anti-LGBT group
Gays Against Groomers (GAG )[ 5] is an American far-right [ 1] [ 2] [ 3] and anti-LGBT [ 5] [ 1] [ 6] [ 7] organization known for campaigning against gender-affirming care for minors,[ 1] protesting school curriculum content with LGBT themes,[ 8] criticizing Drag Queen Story Hour events,[ 4] and opposing LGBT representation in children's media.[ 9] [ 10] The group also opposes trans women competing in women's sports and being allowed in women's spaces, pride events where children are present and brands marketing to LGBT people during Pride Month .[ 11] [ 12] [ 13]
GAG began in June 2022 as a Twitter account created by Jaimee Michell,[ 4] who had previously been employed by right-wing communications firms Arsenal Media and X Strategies and posted similar content on her personal account. The account is known for posting anti-trans rhetoric and has been compared to Libs of TikTok .[ 4] [ 5] Michell filed incorporation papers for GAG in September 2022. GAG has been banned from multiple social media and payment platforms for violating rules on hate speech;[ 14] the group has been promoted by right-wing media outlets such as Fox News ,[ 5] One America News Network (OANN),[ 5] and InfoWars .[ 7]
According to GLAAD and the ADL , GAG uses the slur "groomer" along with ambiguous messaging to perpetuate the LGBT grooming conspiracy theory .[ 5] [ 15] GAG helped organize an anti-LGBTQ rally in Florida that was attended by other far-right and anti-LGBTQ organizations such as Moms for Liberty and the Proud Boys .[ 5] [ 16]
^ a b c d Gomez, Gloria Rebecca (February 17, 2023). "GOP anti-drag bill would send performers to prison for up to 10 years" . Arizona Mirror . Archived from the original on March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023 .
^ a b Lavietes, Matt (May 20, 2023). " 'Live Laugh Lesbian': Target's cheeky Pride collection strikes again" . NBC News . Retrieved September 13, 2023 .
^ a b Cite error: The named reference Mackey
was invoked but never defined (see the help page ).
^ a b c d Goforth, Claire (June 29, 2022). "Is 'Gays against Groomers' the new Libs of TikTok?" . The Daily Dot . Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023 .
^ a b c d e f g "Online Amplifiers of Anti-LGBTQ+ Extremism" . Anti-Defamation League . January 24, 2023. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023 .
^ Burga, Solcyre (March 5, 2023). "Here's the Status of Anti-Drag Bills Across the U.S." Time . Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023 .
^ a b Owen, Greg (December 6, 2022). "Wisconsin school board member sues over new sex-ed curriculum" . LGBTQ Nation . Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023 .
^ Cite error: The named reference Salgado
was invoked but never defined (see the help page ).
^ Garton, Nicholas (August 31, 2023). "Book-ban efforts target LGBTQ+ works. Madison libraries display them" . The Capital Times . Retrieved August 28, 2024 .
^ Guardian, Thrifty. "Paw Patrol Spinoff Going "Woke"?: Non-Binary Character Introduced on Rubble and Crew" . Microsoft Start . Retrieved August 28, 2024 .
^ Gays Against Groomers [@againstgrmrs] (August 9, 2024). "Maintaining sex-separated sports and spaces matters because including males in something that is female-only no longer makes it female-only...it is now coed" (Tweet ). Retrieved August 29, 2024 – via Twitter .
^ Gays Against Groomers [@againstgrmrs] (July 29, 2023). "PRIDE IS NOT FOR KIDS" (Tweet ). Retrieved August 29, 2024 – via Twitter .
^ Gays Against Groomers [@againstgrmrs] (June 29, 2024). "These corporations aren't allies, they're opportunists. They've discovered that pandering with the "LGBTQIA2S+" alphabet soup is a way to increase their brand value and tap into a lucrative market" (Tweet ). Retrieved August 29, 2024 – via Twitter .
^ Cite error: The named reference Goforth 2022b
was invoked but never defined (see the help page ).
^ Wiggins, Christopher (December 16, 2022). "Anti-LGBTQ+ Hate Way Up on Twitter Since Elon Musk's Takeover: Study" . The Advocate . Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023 .
^ Cite error: The named reference Owen3
was invoked but never defined (see the help page ).