Jamiee Michell—the founder of the anti-trans group Gays Against Groomers which claims to be "a coalition of gays against the sexualization, indoctrination and medicalization of children"—was harshly condemned after she claimed gender-affirming medical care is to blame for last weekend's mass shooting at Club Q, a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
During an appearance on Fox News personality Tucker Carlson's program, Michell concurred with Carlson's claims characterizing gender-affirming care for transgender youth as child abuse and teaching young children about the existence of LGBTQ+ people is akin to sexual exploitation.
Michell then absolved the alleged shooter, saying the LGBTQ+ community will continue to be the target of similar attacks so long as the “evil agenda” of gender-affirming care is allowed to continue.
You can hear what Michell said in the video below.
Michell said:
"It shouldn't have to be said but what is anti-LGBTQ that these people need to understand and what is putting our community in great danger is claiming that all of us support this and just associating all of us with this."
"You know, saying that ‘groomer’ is an anti-LGBTQ slur, that is doing irreparable damage to us as a whole, and it’s putting a really large target on our backs."
“And unfortunately, you know, the tragedy that happened in Colorado Springs the other night, you know, it was expected and predictable.”
"We all within Gays Against Groomers saw this coming from a mile away and sadly, I don’t think it’s going to stop until we end this evil agenda that is attacking children."
Michell's remarks echoed conservative talking points about transgender people bring to mind the recent controversy that erupted in Texas after Greg Abbott, the state's Republican governor, signed off on legislation that, though ultimately struck down by a federal judge, would have empowered the state to open child abuse investigations into families whose children receive gender affirming procedures.
Her words offer further examples of the ongoing "groomer" hysteria accusing LGBTQ+ people of building relationships, trust and emotional connections with children so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them.
She also showed a gross misunderstanding of the importance of gender-affirming care as explained by medical professionals.
Studies show transgender teens are more likely to be subjected to violence in high school and have higher rates of suicide. A recent study showed transgender adults with access to puberty blockers as teens were less likely to have suicidal thoughts.
The study, published in Pediatrics, concluded "those who received treatment with pubertal suppression, when compared with those who wanted pubertal suppression but did not receive it, had lower odds of lifetime suicidal ideation."
Michell and Carlson were harshly condemned, with many saying her comments fall under the definition of stochastic terrorism.
Michell's appearance on Carlson's program comes as many on the left, including Transporation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, excoriate conservative politicians and media for fostering an environment that has made attacks against the LGBTQ+ community more commonplace.
The alleged shooter was charged with ten felony counts—five counts of murder and five counts of committing a bias-motivated crime causing bodily injury. Five people died during the attack and at least 25 others were injured, most of them by gunfire.
News outlets reported this week that he is the grandson of outgoing California Republican State Assemblymember Randy Voepel, the former mayor of Santee, California who once compared the January 6 insurrection to the Revolutionary War.
This information has only amplified concerns about far-right radicalization and how being raised in an environment where hate and political violence are tolerated can lead people to commit horrific acts like mass murder.
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