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A Republican politician in Michigan is under fire after sending a round of unhinged fundraising emails and texts meant to appear as if the voter's child had been scheduled for gender confirmation surgery without their knowledge.
Michigan GOP state Senator Tom Barrett's texts were made to look like a medical appointment notification which listed the patient as "Your Child" and confirmed their "gender reassignment surgery has been booked."
The email version included a claim Democratic President Joe Biden is "forcing 5-year-olds to learn about gender reassignment surgeries"—an utter lie, of course, as is the notion gender confirmation surgery is even performed on minors.
It is not and never has been.
But like most Republicans, Barrett wasn't about to let that stop him from playing on parents' fears of having LGBTQ+ children in order to raise funds for his campaign.
See screenshots of the texts and emails below.
Disgusting fundraising email from Michigan GOP state Sen. Tom Barrett. \n\n\u201cPresident Biden is forcing 5-year-olds to learn about gender reassignment surgeries, gender identities, and other radical ideas\u201d\n\nhttps://michiganadvance.com/2022/04/21/sen-barrett-fundraising-ask-claims-your-child-is-scheduled-for-gender-reassignment-surgery/\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/IXOdkqf6OK— Poli Alert (@Poli Alert) 1650585461
After fear-mongering about non-existent underage "gender reassignment surgery"--a term the medical field doesn't even use anymore, having long ago replaced it with "gender affirmation surgery"--the fake appointment confirmations went on to say:
“If you would like to CANCEL this appointment because you do not believe in teaching young children about dangerous transgender ideologies, please sign your name NOW.”
The emails and texts then make false claims about Biden's LGBTQ rights agenda and warns that "our children are doomed" if Democrats are not defeated.
Barrett has since replaced the texts and emails with a version that is no less unhinged. It reads in part:
“Democrats are HELLBENT on destroying our faith, removing God from the center of our nation, and pushing transgender ideology on young children.”
"Without your immediate support, Pelosi will have all the ammunition she needs to destroy Christian Republicans like Tom Barrett & completely eviscerate our traditional values.”
As usual for Republicans, Barrett provided no reasoning or evidence for his claims that American politics is essentially an anti-Christian holy war being waged by two lifelong churchgoers.
On Twitter, Barrett's fundraising tactics left people shocked and outraged--especially given the potential danger they posed to children should their parents not realize the notifications aren't real.
excuse me, WHAT?\n\ni've seen some misleading political fundraisers in my time, but a fake notification for your kid receiving \u201cGender Reassignment Surgery Tomorrow at 9 AM\u201d is "should actually be prosecuted for fraud" levels of misleadinghttps://michiganadvance.com/2022/04/21/sen-barrett-fundraising-ask-claims-your-child-is-scheduled-for-gender-reassignment-surgery/\u00a0\u2026— Colin McMillen (@Colin McMillen) 1650672091
Like I said: open war on the LGBTQ+ community. \n\nReminder that they don\u2019t *do* gender reassignment surgery on trans children. It\u2019s a lie peddled by liars who do nothing but lie about trans people. \n\nAnd as you can see, they\u2019re turning it into a vile moneymaking grift.https://twitter.com/zackstanton/status/1517257979204149248\u00a0\u2026— Commander Stephanie Sterling (@Commander Stephanie Sterling) 1650613287
Coming out is a very personal decision, dictated by someone\u2019s safety and comfort.\n\nMaking a mockery of the process is disgusting.\n\nAnd faking a child\u2019s outing can be downright dangerous.https://twitter.com/zackstanton/status/1517257979204149248\u00a0\u2026— Jeremy Moss (@Jeremy Moss) 1650583811
I\u2019m genuinely terrified that some bigoted transphobic asshole will get one of these fake \u201cyour child\u2019s gender reassignment surgery has been booked\u201d Republican fundraiser texts, not realize it\u2019s part of a GOP fundraising scam, take it seriously, and beat the crap out of their kid.https://twitter.com/zackstanton/status/1517257979204149248\u00a0\u2026— Alexander (@Alexander) 1650608497
DON\u2019T LET RETHUGS\u2019 BULLYING TACTICS PREVAIL\u2014\nSUPPORT THEIR DEMOCRATIC OPPONENTS!\nSen. Barrett fundraising ask claims \u2018your child\u2019 is scheduled for gender reassignment surgery\nhttps://michiganadvance.com/2022/04/21/sen-barrett-fundraising-ask-claims-your-child-is-scheduled-for-gender-reassignment-surgery/\u00a0\u2026 via @michiganadvance— Kate Pryde (@Kate Pryde) 1650790876
This level of craziness can\u2019t be countered with rational arguments https://michiganadvance.com/2022/04/21/sen-barrett-fundraising-ask-claims-your-child-is-scheduled-for-gender-reassignment-surgery/\u00a0\u2026 via @michiganadvance— PieDog\ud83d\udd1e (@PieDog\ud83d\udd1e) 1650804458
No. Trans kids aren\u2019t being booked for surgery. But politician @SenTomBarrett is sending out texts that makes you think they are. \n\nhttps://michiganadvance.com/2022/04/21/sen-barrett-fundraising-ask-claims-your-child-is-scheduled-for-gender-reassignment-surgery/\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/2l9aJPrVwy— Fallon Fox (@Fallon Fox) 1650603743
What the actual **** is wrong with Michigan's Republicans? How hung up on sex is Tom Barrett?https://twitter.com/JonKingNews/status/1517158605614731264\u00a0\u2026— Mitchell Robinson (@Mitchell Robinson) 1650586217
This is sick. MIGOP needs to stop with the lies. Who does this type of thing for fundraising? #mileg \n#HateWontWin \nSen. Barrett fundraising ask claims \u2018your child\u2019 is scheduled for gender reassignment surgery https://michiganadvance.com/2022/04/21/sen-barrett-fundraising-ask-claims-your-child-is-scheduled-for-gender-reassignment-surgery/\u00a0\u2026 via @michiganadvance— Julie Brixie (@Julie Brixie) 1650563540
If you thought Republicans would back away from the moral panics and attacks on LGBTQ people after GOP Senator Lana Theis accused Sen. McMorrow of \u201cgrooming\u201d children\u2026 you\u2019d be wrong.https://twitter.com/michiganadvance/status/1517170693993123843\u00a0\u2026— Russ McNamara (@Russ McNamara) 1650557050
Barrett isn't the only Republican fighting a dirty game of hysteria in a bid to win elected office. His Republican Michigan Senate colleague Lana Theis accused three Democratic Michigan Senators of secretly being pedophiles In her fundraising materials earlier this month.