Gays Against Groomers - Bias and Credibility

QUESTIONABLE SOURCE

A questionable source exhibits one or more of the following: extreme bias, consistent promotion of propaganda/conspiracies, poor or no sourcing of credible information, a complete lack of transparency, and/or is fake news. Fake News is the deliberate attempt to publish hoaxes and/or disinformation for profit or influence (Learn More). Sources listed in the Questionable Category may be untrustworthy and should be fact-checked on a per-article basis. Please note sources on this list are not considered fake news unless specifically written in the reasoning section for that source. See all Questionable sources.

Overall, we rate Gays Against Groomers (GAG) as extreme right-biased and questionable based on the promotion of anti-LGBTQ propaganda, conspiracy theories, pseudoscience, a lack of transparency, numerous failed fact checks, and labeling as an extremist group by other organizations.

Detailed Report

Questionable Reasoning: Propaganda, Conspiracy, Pseudoscience, Failed Fact Checks, Lack of Transparency,
Bias Rating: EXTREME RIGHT
Factual Reporting: LOW
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY

History

Established in 2022 by Jaimee Michell, Gays Against Groomers (GAG) is an activist organization known for its opposition to various aspects of the LGBTQ+ community, notably transgender issues and drag shows.

Based in Wisconsin, it gained attention for using the term “groomer” in a derogatory manner against the LGBTQ+ community. Criticized by The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) for spreading misleading narratives and being an anti-LGBTQ+ extremist group, GLAAD describes Gays Against Groomers as a national organization that uses harmful language to attack LGBTQ-inclusive policies and mischaracterizes gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth. The group frequently collaborates with Moms for Liberty to disseminate this harmful rhetoric.

Read our profile on the United States government and media.

Funded by / Ownership

Gays Against Groomers (GAG ) is involved in fundraising by selling merchandise and accepting donations online. It claims to be pending approval for 501(c)4 nonprofit status and is registered in Wisconsin.

Analysis / Bias

Led by Michell, with figures like Sasha Leigh and David Leatherwood, GAG is viewed as a right-wing group, not grassroots. Its rhetoric, often involving the term “groomer,” positions LGBTQ+ individuals as threats, especially in education. The group has been linked to the “Stop the Steal” movement and other far-right activities, and its leaders have a history of involvement in right-wing extremism and conspiracy theories.

Michell, for instance, has been involved in spreading QAnon conspiracy theories and expressed support for the January 6 insurrection. Leatherwood, another prominent figure in the group, also has ties to the “Stop the Steal” movement and has celebrated the January 6 events.

Based on their rhetoric and actions, the ADL and the SPLC have identified Gays Against Groomers as an anti-LGBTQ extremist group. The group’s activities have had real-world impacts, including the incitement of harassment and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals and communities.

Key Document Analysis

The “Newspaper” category under the “More” section provides access to publications and downloadable materials produced by Gays Against Groomers. We analyzed the document from the “Newspaper” category titled “The Transgender Bill of Rights: Gay Erasure and the End of Childhood Innocence,” which expresses strong opposition to LGBTQ+ inclusion in education, particularly targeting transgender rights.

The group uses strong, emotionally loaded language to argue that such inclusion is harmful to children, demonstrating a clear bias against transgender individuals. A representative quote from the document is: “These ‘transgender rights’ activist lunatics can try all they want, but we will not back down until this movement is destroyed. Gay rights grant gay & lesbian adults the freedom to live our lives as who we are. ‘Trans rights’ force society to rearrange and affirm people as what they are not,” which exemplifies their critical stance and emotive rhetoric. The document’s tone is provocative, lacking a balanced perspective and relying more on ideological assertions than empirical evidence.

In general, Gays Against Groomers (GAG) presents a highly biased viewpoint against LGBTQ+ rights, employing rhetoric that has been condemned as hate speech and fueling a climate of fear and hostility towards LGBTQ+ individuals. Its connections to far-right movements and its usage of extremist rhetoric place it firmly within right-wing activism, far from the grassroots community advocacy it claims to represent. Finally, this source frequently promotes misinformation and makes false claims, as evidenced by failed fact checks below.

Failed Fact Checks

“There is no such thing as a trans kid.” – Pants on Fire
“This means it will be illegal to discriminate against child rapists.” – False
Here they are fighting for the right to mutilate the genitals of their kids before puberty. – False
Head Of ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’ Org Arrested For Child Porn. – False
New data finds that there has been a 4000% spike in students that identify as non-binary in New Jersey. – False
See numerous other failed fact checks.

Overall, we rate Gays Against Groomers (GAG) as extreme right-biased and questionable based on the promotion of anti-LGBTQ propaganda, conspiracy theories, pseudoscience, a lack of transparency, numerous failed fact checks, and labeling as an extremist group by other organizations. (M. Huitsing 12/16/2023)