NPR finally catches up on the 'far-right' using the homophobic term 'groomers'

It was back in March when Washington Post opinion columnist Paul Waldman gave his colleagues a heads up that the word “groomer” was working its way into the mainstream. “The idea of accusing anyone who supports treating gay people as full members of society of being pedophiles is SPREADING FAST on the right,” he tweeted. What seems to have tipped Waldman off was a piece in the American Conservative titled, “Disney Goes Groomer.” How dare people call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill the “Anti-Groomer Bill.”

There was actually a bit of debate within the conservative community on whether or not using the term “groomer” was productive or not. One thing is for sure: the word certainly hit a nerve.

It’s mid-May, and NPR has finally caught up, reporting that accusations of grooming “are the latest political attack” that has “gained new traction.” We had to check the date on the story to make sure this wasn’t a repost from April, but no, it’s new. And NPR is here to tell us that it’s a homophobic scare tactic used by the far-right.

No, LGBTQ advocates are not "grooming" kids, despite some baseless political attacks from the far-right.

In fact, it's a homophobic scare tactic that's been weaponized against queer people for decades. https://t.co/n2EEoS24CH

— NPR (@NPR) May 11, 2022

Melissa Block reports:

Mallory McMorrow was stunned when she saw it.

With horror, the Michigan state senator, a Democrat, read an email accusing her of “grooming” children. The email was sent by a fellow senator, Republican Lana Theis, who was soliciting funds from her supporters for her reelection campaign.

In that email, Theis wrote that children are “under assault in our schools” by what she called “progressive mobs trying to steal our children’s innocence.”

And then it got personal.

“She accused me by name of grooming and wanting to sexualize kindergartners,” McMorrow tells NPR. “I mean, my heart absolutely sank.”

So being opposed to a ban on kindergarten teachers leading class discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity” is not wanting to sexualize kindergarteners? We’re confused.

Thank you, state -funded media outlet, for telling me decisively what to think.

— Greg (@GTL_310) May 11, 2022

Opinion piece?

— Beatrix (@BtrixKid) May 12, 2022

It’s not marked as such.

Why isn’t this labeled as opinion? This whole article is speculation based on isolated incidents.

— ♡n (@wanderer_08) May 12, 2022

If there's one thing that both sides of the political spectrum can agree on is just keep all the sex and gender stuff out of elementary school classrooms. 💪

— Minnie (@Minnie2343242) May 11, 2022

I thought that, too, but NPR says that makes me far-right, so 🤷🏻‍♀️.

— Amy (@4crooks) May 11, 2022

There is no daylight whatsoever between NPR and far left activism.

— Yod 🧢 (@BobbyTilton) May 12, 2022

What sort of journalism is this?

This shows under the National news section for some reason and not under the opinion section.

— Michael (@Michaels_2020) May 11, 2022

So teachers should be discussing their sexual proclivities with minors? Weird flex NPR. This won’t age well

— Freedom Flu Yinzer ✝️🏴 (@InnernetteD) May 12, 2022

maybe they should stop releasing videos where it looks like they could be grooming kids.

— 𝚓𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚢 𝚍𝚎𝚑𝚗𝚎𝚛 (@jeremydehner) May 11, 2022

How much video evidence do you need? Grooming is exactly what they’re doing. Just watch for yourself

— Ultra-Maga King (@BrandonLockeNC) May 11, 2022

Gay people aren’t the ones doing the things (rightfully) being called grooming.

This is a “TQ+” political machine issue, not an “LGB” one.

This NPR tweet is homophobic, actually. https://t.co/SKsTULZLvS

— Emmx-Jo (@EmmaJoNYC) May 11, 2022

Thank you Comrade for telling me this does not exist…except, I've seen multiple instances where it is…

— SoFloBulls (@bulls_flo) May 12, 2022

How about you just don’t talk to little kids about sex and we call it a day?

— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) May 11, 2022

This editor keeps this definition bookmarked for occasions just like this; it’s not homophobic:

Don't make me tap the sign pic.twitter.com/Qu3ON6t4I2

— Joseph (@Hockeyjunkie88) April 6, 2022

So, NPR … at what age do you think children should be introduced to sexuality by their teachers? It’s not mentioned.

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