Christina Pushaw should compile all of her email interactions with reporters into a book. This time around, it’s a reporter for NBC News who’s “working on a story about LGBTQ teens facing increased online harassment amid the passing of Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law.” Specifically, he wants to know if Pushaw has any comment “on the spike of conservative and far-right figures using the term ‘groomer’ to describe LGBTQ people and their allies.”
OK, so which is it? Teens facing increased online harassment? Or conservatives using the term “groomer” to describe LGBTQ people and their allies? How about neither? Conservatives are indeed using the term “groomer,” but not to describe just any LGBTQ people and their allies; it’s directed specifically at anyone, gay or straight, who advocates for teaching sexuality to children in kindergarten through third grade.
Oh, and his deadline is ASAP.
Churnalists keep on churnin’ pic.twitter.com/LgB2nliaxW
— Christina Pushaw 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) April 18, 2022
We’re not going to type all of that out, but Pushaw replied, “The assumption that criticism of grooming is criticism of the LGBTQ community equates LGBTQ people to groomers, which is both bigoted and inaccurate.”
She adds, “Do you have a more politically correct term for adults who advocate for instructing young people about sexuality and gender theory behind their parents’ backs?”
We checked NBC News’ website but have only found a story from six days ago, entitled, “‘Groomer,’ ‘pro-pedophile’: Old tropes find new life in anti-LGBTQ movement: In the wake of Florida’s LGBTQ education law, language that had long been relegated to the margins has resurfaced among conservative lawmakers and pundits.”
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So they’ve already covered it. And what law? Florida’s LGBTQ education law? What’s that?
Brava!
— Tammy Bruce (@HeyTammyBruce) April 18, 2022
*@ChristinaPushaw presses send. pic.twitter.com/oB67MgxEch
— Sorta something (@James_Hiler) April 18, 2022
— Becky Lannon 🐘🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🍊🍊 (@beckylannon) April 18, 2022
I can think of worse things to call people who try to shove radical gender ideology down kids' throats!
— Joe Papp (@joepabike) April 18, 2022
I have a feeling that the same people asking you these questions are the same people that say the Science™️ supports putting children on puberty blockers.
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) April 18, 2022
"My deadline is ASAP." Funny how they always wait until the very last second to ask for comment.
— Hey! Careful man! There's a 🥃 (@Beverage_Here) April 18, 2022
I call them out on it.
— Christina Pushaw 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) April 18, 2022
I wouldn’t even answer that 🤡😂
— Ron DeSantis News (@RonDeSantis2024) April 18, 2022
But her deadline is ASAP!!!!
— Christina Pushaw 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) April 18, 2022
Parents: screenshot this response. Use it. Share it.
— Scarlett Johnson (@scarlett4kids) April 18, 2022
As we’ve noted, a lot of people on both sides of the political aisle said it’s at best counterproductive to use the word “groomer.” But man, has it struck a nerve; they’re still doing news stories about it.
Editor’s note: A typo has been corrected in the headline.
Related:
WaPo opinion columnist gives a heads up that right-wing sites are referring to ‘Don’t Say Gay’ as the ‘Anti-Groomer Bill’ https://t.co/qANdFkltBT
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 30, 2022
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