Disinformation campaigns targeting LGBTQ+ people linked to real-world violence

The concept of a “gay agenda” is identified as a disinformation campaign and a series of conspiratorial narratives used to scapegoat LGBTQ+ individuals. These narratives often include baseless accusations that queer people aim to groom children, manipulate media for indoctrination, or undermine traditional family values and religious institutions.

Historically, this rhetoric can be traced back to a 1992 video series titled “The Gay Agenda” produced by Springs of Life Ministries, a California-based evangelical group. The series utilized fabricated and inflammatory claims to provoke moral panic and was widely distributed to right-wing Christian organizations, gaining further visibility through televangelist Pat Robertson.

Research indicates that such propaganda contributes to real-world harm, including increased harassment and physical violence against the LGBTQ+ community. Cited instances of violence include the 2016 Pulse massacre in Orlando, a 2022 shooting in Colorado Springs, and a recent attack in Tucson. Additionally, the rhetoric is linked to the psychological distress and suicide of numerous children facing anti-gay bullying.