'Grooming' and 'pro-pedophile' surge as conservative buzzwords amid battle over 'Don't Say Gay' bill (Mild barf alert)

Insider ^ | April 15, 2022 | Kieran Press-Reynolds

[DoodleBob]

A group of right-wing protesters and conspiracy theorists gathered outside Disneyland's entrance in California on Wednesday to rally against "grooming," following weeks of similar rallies against Disney — the latest in a growing culture war trend of conservatives accusing opponents of corrupting children.

Prominent republicans and far-right influencers have spent weeks baselessly accusing Disney of grooming children after the company withdrew its support from Florida's controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill, which will restrict public school instructors from talking to K-3 students about "sexual identity and gender orientation." Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law in late March.

Grooming, which refers to people using manipulative strategies to coerce children, teens, or vulnerable adults into being sexually abused, has become the latest conservative attack buzzword against democrats (and companies), alongside "pedophile." The narrative echoes age-old fearmongering tactics used by conservatives to foster moral panic and baselessly link the LGBTQ community with predatory behavior.

...

Many conservatives have misleadingly called Florida's law an anti-grooming bill, despite that teaching children about gender orientation has no connection to grooming. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has been one of the loudest voices in this culture war moment. Greene baselessly accused Disney of wanting to "take your children, and they want to indoctrinate them into sexual immoral filth," and tweeted on April 6 that the Democrats are the party of "grooming and transitioning children, and pro-pedophile politics."

Meanwhile, DeSantis' Press Secretary, Christina Pushaw, tweeted that anyone against the Florida law — which she called the "Anti-Groomer Bill" — is "probably a groomer or at least you don't denounce the grooming of 4-8 year old children." In early April, far-right commentator Jack Posobiec tweeted a link to purchase a shirt with Disney's castle logo and the text "Boycott Groomers" and "Bring Ammo."

[Ge0ffrey]

We’re not allowed to say “intelligent design” either

[GingisK]

I say what I want anywhere I want at the time I want. The actual problem is the people who allow others to tell them what they can and cannot say.

Push back hard, stand your ground, and be willing to take the consequences. It is also important to share some consequences with the tyrants.

[Joe Brower]

"Grooming, which refers to people using manipulative strategies to coerce children, teens, or vulnerable adults into being sexually abused, has become the latest conservative attack buzzword against democrats (and companies), alongside "pedophile." The narrative echoes age-old fearmongering tactics used by conservatives to foster moral panic and baselessly link the LGBTQ community with predatory behavior. "

[NetAddicted]

Note to self: keep an eye on FR keyword moralAbsolutes.