LGBT grooming conspiracy theory

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The notion that LGBT people, or those supportive of LGBT rights, are engaging in child grooming and enabling child sexual abuse is a far-right conspiracy theory and anti-LGBT trope. Although the belief that LGBT individuals are more likely to molest children has no basis in fact, this stereotype has existed for multiple decades in the U.S. and Europe, going back to before World War II.^[1]

The specific use of groomer as a slur^[2][3] to refer to LGBT people (especially trans people^[4] and drag queens)^[5] became more prominent during partisan political campaigning in the 2020s,^[6][7] where it was often used to justify anti-LGBT curriculum bills.^[6][7] Despite originating with the far-right, the conspiracy theory behind the slur has been pushed by a growing number of mainstream conservatives,^[8] especially in the United States,^[9] and has since spread to other countries, including Australia,^[10][11] Canada^[12] and the UK.^[13]

Experts characterize these accusations and conspiracy theories as baseless, relying on homophobic, biphobic and transphobic tropes; and label them a moral panic.^[8] Advocates for children's rights have protested that the conspiracy theories frustrate proper support for abuse survivors,^[14] and LGBT rights organizations have condemned the use of such notions as encouraging discrimination in the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Hungary, Uganda, and elsewhere.^[15]