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Ethan Schmidt, a 24-year-old right-wing extremist, sparked fear and concern within the LGBTQ+ community after he released a video in which he threatened to "hunt" down LGBTQ+ allies during Pride Month festivities.
In his video, Schmidt, who is shown riding in a vehicle alongside the self-described “authoritarian Christian nationalist" Kyle Clifton, says he plans on “exposing” the “Satanic Pride shrines for children” and will target LGBTQ-supportive employees at Target retail stores.
The video garnered significant social media attention after it was posted by PatriotTakes, an account dedicated to tracking far-right movements.
You can hear what Schmidt said in the video below.
Ethan Schmidt, a right wing provocateur who has made videos with Kari Lake, Wendy Rogers, and Paul Gosar, warned Target he will “hunt LGBT supporters” in their stores and across Phoenix in June, stating they “are not safe” and they “can’t hide.” pic.twitter.com/O3ReHVN3qY
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 21, 2022
Schmidt says:
“We’re not going to let corporate poison the children."
"So Target, we’re just giving you a heads up that we’re going to be coming after you hard…. This is going to be next-level stuff.”
He adds:
“I also like to hunt LGBT supporters on my free time."
"That’s one of my favorite pastimes…. We’re going to be going on hunting expeditions pretty soon, y’know, hunting LGBT supporters across Phoenix and Arizona…."
"If you support the LGBT agenda, you’re not safe. You’re not safe. Right, Kyle?”
The video prompted Target to acknowledge the threat, saying it was working with its corporate security team in addition to its partners to ensure its staff's safety.
Update: Target is aware and working on the threat by a right wing Arizona activist who pledged to “hunt LGBT supporters” inside Target stores. https://t.co/gbIYge0yPe pic.twitter.com/78Bff3VKOK
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 24, 2022
The video quickly went viral and many expressed outrage, urging the LGBTQ+ community to remain vigilant.
This is what Republicans have given us with their mainstreaming of replacement theory. An epidemic of white supremacist terrorists vowing to “hunt” people of color, LGBT individuals, and anyone else they can demonize for existing. @FBI these threats need to be taken seriously. https://t.co/46dkj5p8qr
— Andrew Wortman 🏳️🌈🇺🇦🇺🇸 (@AmoneyResists) May 22, 2022
🚨WARNING TO ARIZONA LGBTQIA+🚨
Threats of serious bodily harm against LGBTQIA+ people should be taken seriously. Ethan Schmidt has been threatening to "hunt" queer people in Phoenix for months. Please report any and all incidents with Ethan to police. https://t.co/Ti0wlqigk2
— Rainbow Youth Project (@RainbowYouthUSA) May 22, 2022
This should get you arrested for terroristic threats https://t.co/jQQ3MJPO3T
— Transplanted Cactus (@twitcelle) May 22, 2022
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
How many times do we hear "there were signs and red flags and flashing red lights everywhere" --- AFTER the incident of violence occurs?
BIG RED FLASHING F'ING LIGHTS HERE.
ETHAN SCHMIDT. PHOENIX, AZ.
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 https://t.co/1tfdMDynGe
— ᒪᗩᑎᑕᗴ 🏳️🌈 (@LanceUSA70) May 22, 2022
Ethan is a ⚪️🗑 troll left behind by a changing world. No skills or intelligence; only white skin to offer the world; hoping for a taste of fame by any means.
While as harmless as Marge Greene in a math debate, his words will incite real-life violence. #HateSpeechIsNotFree https://t.co/FX1AfAPJOQ
— 🇺🇸🅸🅽🅳🆈 🆁🅴🅵🆄🅶🅴🅴🇺🇸 (@mk_indy) May 22, 2022
Okay so this is what the new Republican Party is fostering. It’s really hard to love your enemies when you know they hate you so much that your life means nothing and they want you dead! Mind you your life has nothing to do with theirs! 👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿 https://t.co/tXcEoeVEvV
— J.L. Whitehead (@jlavett0831) May 22, 2022
It is time to say the Republican Party is no better than the Westboro Baptist Church. This level of Evangelical Christian terrorism needs to be monitored by the FBI, on a watch list. Countless LGBTQIA+ lives are at risk of harm thanks to these Christian terrorists! https://t.co/WPoZVIJTrj
— Tyler Stevenson (he/him) 💜 🂡 ♠️ (@TygerSongbird) May 23, 2022
When people like Ginni Thomas can support a violent insurrection with impunity, the stage is set for dirt like this to publicly threaten mortal harm to innocent Americans https://t.co/b9ghGZwLJu
— Richard Williamson (@rcwmsn) May 22, 2022
Hey @FBI, here is your chance to stop hate crime before it happens. https://t.co/CpOBKsaRe6
— Steve (@BroomallSteve) May 22, 2022
Concerns about attacks on the LGBTQ+ community are not unfounded.
In June 2016, the nationwide community was devastated by a mass shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in which 49 people—many of whom were Hispanic people of color who had gathered for a "Latin Night" of music and dancing—were senselessly murdered.
The shooting was the deadliest mass shooting by a single shooter in the United States until it was surpassed the following year by the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, which resulted in 58 deaths. It was also the bloodiest incidence of violence against the LGBTQ+ community since the UpStairs Lounge arson attack of 1973.
Pride Month festivities that year were noticeably more somber though nonetheless more needed than ever, galvanizing a new generation of LGBTQ+ activists into action, a development that has proven indispensable in years since, particularly as Republican legislators have launched a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation nationwide.