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Far-Right Pundit Matt Walsh Made An Anti-Trans Claim So Absurd Even Joe Rogan Called Him Out
Far-right pundit Matt Walsh is being harshly criticized after he made an anti-trans claim so absurd even the reliably conservative conspiracy theory wielding shock jock Joe Rogan called him out for it.
Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience—the podcast Rogan has used to troubling effect to spread COVID-19 disinformation and share conspiracies about the integrity of the 2020 general election—the Daily Wire host claimed "millions" of young children are on hormone blockers.
However, the real number is far lower, as Rogan's producer pointed out on the air prompting Rogan to confirm only 4,780 children in the United States have been placed on puberty blockers within the last five years.
You can watch what happened in the video below.
\u201cOn Joe Rogan's podcast, Matt Walsh claims that "millions" of trans people are on puberty blockers, until a fact check suggests that the true number is less than a thousand per year. \n\nWalsh: "Media Matters will have fun with that clip."\n\n(h/t @AlexPattyy)\u201d— Ari Drennen \ud83c\udff9 (@Ari Drennen \ud83c\udff9) 1667860537
Walsh started out by claiming that drug companies and healthcare providers have benefited financially by prescribing hormone blockers, which help delay unwanted physical changes that don't match someone's gender identity. He insisted that in prescribing these medications, these companies are "also admitting that they have horribly disfigured and abused thousands, maybe millions of kids.”
When Rogan asked Walsh to tell him how many people "have had this done," Walsh did not provide a direct answer.
"Depends on what — I don’t think we have exact numbers, but it’s — if we’re talking about the drugs, it’s, I mean, millions."
When the incredulous Rogan asked for more information, Walsh said that while he expected someone to "fact check me" at some point, he nonetheless believes "we’re into the millions now at this point."
At this point, Rogan's producer Jamie Vernon weighed in, citing a Reuters article that notes that only 4,780 children have been placed on puberty blockers within the last five years. Rogan quipped that the number "would be a big undercount" and Vernon commented that the numbers indicate that fewer "than a thousand people a year" are prescribed hormone blockers.
Walsh then attempted to backtrack, saying:
“I would guess you know, hundreds of thousands at this — but I could be wrong."
“But part of the problem though is that we don’t — it’s, it’s very hard to get numbers on any of this stuff and — you know, who are you gonna trust when they’re telling you the numbers?"
"So that’s — that’s one of the issues with all this stuff."
Many have also criticized Walsh for so blatantly lying on the air.
\u201cWho knew putting all their chips in on Matt Walsh as an expert on gender issues would backfire horrifically on the right?\u201d— The Serfs (@The Serfs) 1667946093
\u201cOne of the many reasons anyone on the left concerned about pediatric gender medicine (such as myself) should not allow right-wingers like Walsh to become the face of skepticism about gender affirming care. He doesn't know what he's talking about.\u201d— Moti Gorin (@Moti Gorin) 1667930853
\u201cworth noting that for as credulous as rogan is, both generally and in this clip, his producer is more willing to actually fact-check and confront guys like walsh with the reality of their insane lies than basically any mainstream media outlet covering the issue\u201d— largest rodent (@largest rodent) 1667931609
\u201cmatt walsh looks like the stereotype of an austin lib transplant guy. he should just get a tech job and live in some new grey condo in east austin and get really into rock climbing instead of being professionally evil\u201d— the guy who drank the water at Camp Lejeune (@the guy who drank the water at Camp Lejeune) 1667936794
\u201chow many trans people do these dunces think there are in this country\u201d— Matt Binder (@Matt Binder) 1667915451
\u201cSuper interesting. Despite wide documentation that sexual reassignment surgery on minors is incredibly rare, Matt Walsh insists it's probably hundreds of thousands per year despite seeing the data. This guy has made a living as the "expert" on these issues for the right wing.\u201d— David Pakman (@David Pakman) 1667918358
\u201cI\u2019m glad Rogan actually fact-checked this. But it\u2019s astounding that someone who talks about this issue for a living wouldn\u2019t be better informed. Is that really too much to ask?\u201d— Patrick Chovanec (@Patrick Chovanec) 1667920628
\u201cTransphobes lie. Every single one of them. They have to, unless they flat-out say their prejudice is simply unchecked irrational bigotry.\u201d— Oliv, I die, Oliviagain! (Hill) (@Oliv, I die, Oliviagain! (Hill)) 1667923043
\u201cnot breaking new ground with this but man i despise these ppl lol. a group makes the mild demand of dignity and respect and these ghouls make bank off of routinely bold-facedly slandering them over and over again. these people are anti-love and anti-life.\u201d— Dan (@Dan) 1667928937
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."
Walsh's rhetoric also echoed conservative talking points about transgender people that bring to mind the controversy that erupted in Texas earlier this year 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.
Republicans have continued to attack transgender people on a regular basis, breathing life into the ongoing "groomer" hysteria accusing LGBTQ+ people of building relationships, trust, and emotional connections with children so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them.
Last week, the Florida Board of Medicine issued a ban on gender-affirming medications and surgery for youth with gender dysphoria who aren't already being treated.