Rise In UK Anti-Drag Hate Has U.S. Influences, Report Suggests
June 26, 2023A report by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue found, a “loose coalitions of extremists, conspiracy theorists, local activists and fringe political actors,” including far-right groups, fundamentalist religious activists and anti-LGBTQ+ right-wing influencers, are to blame.
A new report specifically names Tory deputy chair Lee Anderson for his comments on “culture wars” in helping escalate anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.
According to ‘Washington Blade’, the report digs into the rise of the anti-LGBTQ+ “groomer” slur — which attempts to link queer people with pedophilia — framing drag as “trans ideology,” performances as misogynistic, and the entire concept as satanic and states these are just some of the narratives being used by groups in various countries to mobilise against drag under the guise of protecting children from harm.
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The research outlines how much U.K.-based fury aimed towards drag events has been lifted from ideas posed by similar groups in the U.S., such as Gays Against Groomers and Libs of TikTok.
The groomer theory, where drag queens and other LGBTQ+ people are seen as trying to groom children to become LGBTQ+ or engage in sexual abuse, has taken precedent as the most extreme form of anti-drag rhetoric.
“Drag performers are framed as ideological indoctrinators, seeking to ‘groom’ children into LGBTQ+ identities, particularly trans identities,” the report reads.
“They are also framed as predatory, with some people, such as Turning Point UK activist and GBNews presenter Calvin Robinson asking the rhetorical question, ‘Why [are] drag queens so keen to spend time with your children?’”
More extreme versions of this claim will argue that drag literally promotes “sex in front of children.”
When discussing the involvement of the Tory government, the report states: “In February 2023, the Conservative Party’s deputy chairman Lee Anderson discussed a strategy of leaning in to ‘culture wars’ in the next election, signifying further political emphasis being put on exploiting these issues.”
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