We’ve heard people call for the head of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press secretary, Christina Pushaw, because she’s often used the word “groomer” in her tweets. Those supposedly in the know say it’s an anti-LGBTQ smear, meaning that gays are trying to groom underage kids for sex. We certainly don’t limit our use of the word to the LGBTQ community; people of any sexual persuasion can be groomers. We keep this tweet handy because it so well captures what grooming means to us:
Don't make me tap the sign pic.twitter.com/Qu3ON6t4I2
— Joseph (@Hockeyjunkie88) April 6, 2022
That definition is borne out in so many teachers saying “I’m your parents now” or “If your parents don’t accept you, I’m your mother.”
You might have heard that Reddit, one of the largest online message boards, recently banned the word “groomer.” Some have chosen to use “predditor” instead to get around the ban. But Media Matters thinks that Twitter needs to step up and ban groomer as well.
Twitter should follow Reddit’s lead and take action against the “groomer” smear inciting anti-LGBTQ harassment https://t.co/fmPMYh9UR6
— Media Matters (@mmfa) July 19, 2022
Mia Gingerich writes that “right-wing users have spent months targeting LGBTQ users on Twitter with offensive accusations of ‘grooming,’ contributing to a climate of harassment and violence.” Not true — the word’s not targeting LGBTQ users … only groomers.
At least one major social media platform has already taken steps to address this, with moderators on Reddit signaling that the site would begin enforcing a ban on the “groomer” smear, saying it violates their policy on hate speech against LGBTQ people. In response to the news of Reddit banning the term being used to attack the LGBTQ community, right-wing media figures like Steven Crowder erroneously accused the platform of making “groomers a protected class,” with the term “groomers” trending on Twitter on July 18.
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Can’t people just stop grooming kids so we don’t have to point it out?
Hi! This is interesting to listen to, and you forgot to link to it!https://t.co/U9Lpd0kMqQ
— James Lindsay, responsible for the GOP's platform (@ConceptualJames) July 19, 2022
I'm curious what word Media Matters would use to describe this person:https://t.co/VQZAXHZ774
— Miss Havisham (@MissHavisham10) July 19, 2022
Always trying to drive themselves as a wedge between kids and their families.
If they didn't know there was grooming going on, they wouldn't be trying to stop people from pointing out the groomers.
— John Hawkins (@johnhawkinsrwn) July 21, 2022
Stop talking to children about sex and instructing them to hide it from their parents
— Obi_1_D_AllKnowing (@obiopiah) July 20, 2022
If I put quotes around "groomer", does that make it legal?
— Red Shoulders (@red_shoulders) July 19, 2022
It's not a smear if it's true.
— Lisa Shannen (@Jamesdaughter) July 20, 2022
Our official statement on Reddit's banning of the word groomer as an anti-LGBTQ+ slur.#GaysAgainstGroomers pic.twitter.com/8ZxxFCENtF
— Gays Against Groomers (@againstgroomers) July 17, 2022
Not at all.
Grooming is an action.
It does not matter what identity one takes; if the action meets the definition of grooming, it is grooming.— MaX Falstein 🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸🇭🇰🇪🇪🇺🇦 (@MaXFalstein) July 19, 2022
Actual proof of removing free speech. This will hurt people more than it will "help".
— BoJoCool (@PersonaG14) July 19, 2022
Media Matters lives to get “hate speech” like Tucker Carlson off the air.
But what if they are grooming?
— Rhubba (@RhubbaComedy) July 19, 2022
I’ve made it into a @mmfa hit piece!!! Thanks, fam! 😘 I’d like to thank the academy, the groomers, and their media lapdogs who provide them cover, without whom I wouldn’t be here today. 🏆
— Mike Harlow (@NotMikeHarlow) July 19, 2022
I see a nerve has been hit. Keep hitting it.
— Melvin W Pierce (@MelvinWPierce1) July 21, 2022
Stop grooming kids … how tough is that?
Related:
Matthew Dowd says if Jesus Christ were alive today, he would be called a groomer https://t.co/e5gRe6XRmv
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 20, 2022
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