Religious Extremism/Anti-LGBTQ+ Activism
Fox News editor covering LGBTQ issues- conversion therapy proponent
Tyler O’Neil, has claimed that being LGBTQ is immoral, stated that “transgender identity is dangerous,” and promotes conversion therapy


By Eric Hananoki | WASHINGTON – Fox News has been dispatching an anti-LGBTQ editor to cover LGBTQ issues, including the debate over Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The editor, Tyler O’Neil, has claimed that being LGBTQ is immoral, stated that “transgender identity is dangerous,” and promoted harmful and discredited conversion therapy as a way for people to supposedly leave “the gay lifestyle.”
Fox News has been waging war against Disney after the company criticized Florida for passing the “Don’t Say Gay” bill in late March. The network has heavily attacked the company both on and off the air, including through its FoxNews.com website.
FoxNews.com has become even more right-wing during President Joe Biden’s administration. Its digital operation is led by former Hannity producer Porter Berry who, the Daily Beast noted, “has quickly remade the network’s digital properties more in the image of its conservative, culture war-heavy opinion programming.”
O’Neil has frequently covered LGBTQ issues for FoxNews.com and FoxBusiness.com. In recent days, he has written anti-Disney stories that carry the headlines, “Teacher running for Congress warns of psychological damage Disney’s LGBT agenda may do to kids”; “Disney employee issues dire warning about the economic consequences of new ‘leftward lurch’”; and “‘Silent majority’ of Disney employees support Florida law, Disney employee running for Congress says.” Some of his pieces have received top–story placement on FoxNews.com’s front page.
Fox News has deployed O’Neil to report on other LGBTQ issues, including conversion therapy and a book about transgender youth.
O’Neil previously worked as a senior editor for the right-wing PJ Media until Fox News hired him last summer. At PJ Media, O’Neil frequently wrote about LGBTQ issues, including promoting “ex-gay” conversion therapy — the harmful and discredited practice that attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. He’s also said that he opposes “LGBT orthodoxy” and has written that “transgender identity is dangerous.”
Here is a sampling of O’Neil’s work for PJ Media.
O’Neil wrote that Christians “must uphold the Bible’s morality, which clearly conflicts with the LGBT orthodoxy that Biden and his fellow Democrats want to enforce on us.” In his farewell note to PJ Media readers, O’Neil wrote that he and PJ Media Managing Editor Paula Bolyard “both agree … that Christians must uphold the Bible’s morality, which clearly conflicts with the LGBT orthodoxy that Biden and his fellow Democrats want to enforce on us.”
According to O’Neil, “Christians need to sympathize with those who are suffering with gender dysphoria and we need to celebrate those who nonetheless reject transgender identity to follow God.” O’Neil wrote a July 2021 piece stating that Christians must reject “transgender orthodoxy.” He concluded: “Christians need to sympathize with those who are suffering with gender dysphoria and we need to celebrate those who nonetheless reject transgender identity to follow God. The church needs to be a welcoming place for all people — but Christians must tell the truth of the gospel with clarity.”
O’Neil credited a version of conversion therapy for supposedly helping people leave “the gay lifestyle.” “Reintegrative therapy” is a repackaged form of conversion therapy. O’Neil wrote an August 2018 piece praising the practice, writing: “Four men — Michael, Nathan, Dennis, and John — all rediscovered their masculinity through therapy. As a result, their unwanted same-sex attraction weakened or dissipated.” He tweeted of reintegrative therapy:

O’Neil praised conversion therapy books as giving “hope” to people. O’Neil wrote a July 2019 piece criticizing Amazon for removing pro-conversion therapy books, including those by discredited quack Dr. Joseph Nicolosi Sr. He tweeted when promoting the article:


After Biden signed an executive order in January 2021 that allowed transgender soldiers to serve in the military, O’Neil wrote that Biden’s “transgender agenda threatens to undermine the military, America’s scientific and health care establishment, and women’s rights.”
O’Neil tweeted in February 2020: “Transgender identity is dangerous.”

O’Neil wrote, “Transgender identity is not the right solution — and enshrining transgender ‘protections’ into law opens up a Pandora’s Box of social ills.” From a November 2020 piece in which O’Neil wrote about why he was supporting Trump after previously opposing him:
The Obama administration endorsed transgender identity over biological sex in restrooms and changing rooms, in the military, and in Obamacare. Under Obama’s health care law, coverage for transgender “treatments” tripled under Medicare and Medicaid. Some regulations suggested that employers would have to cover transgender surgery in health plans, regardless of their convictions on biological sex.
Although people who really do struggle with gender dysphoria (the painful condition of identifying with the gender opposite your biological sex) deserve compassion, transgender identity is not the right solution — and enshrining transgender “protections” into law opens up a Pandora’s Box of social ills.
O’Neil wrote a piece criticizing Caitlyn Jenner for being a transgender woman. O’Neil wrote an April 2017 piece criticizing Jenner for having gender confirmation surgery. Fox News recently hired Jenner as a Fox News contributor. O’Neil wrote (in accordance with the Trans Journalists Association style guide, Media Matters has replaced incorrect references to Jenner’s gender with correct pronouns in brackets.):
Ultimately, it is impossible to change from one sex to the other, because sexuality is written into human DNA. Even if Caitlyn Jenner looks like a woman, gets all the necessary physical alterations, and even has the right hormonal cocktail pulsing through [her] veins, [she] will still be a man, genetically. [She] will still have achieved great things as a man — becoming a father and winning the Olympic gold.
In another piece in January 2019, O’Neil repeatedly deadnamed Jenner in sympathetically writing about a pastor who was ousted over an anti-Jenner billboard. Deadnaming is a form of harassment that involves using a trans person’s prior name against their wishes.
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Eric Hananoki is an investigative reporter for Media Matters for America covering right-wing media and extremism.
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The preceding article was previously published by Media Matters for America and is republished by permission.
Religious Extremism/Anti-LGBTQ+ Activism
Hate group: Mattel is destroying gender lines with Laverne Cox Trans doll
“It is outrageous that a toy company is marketing and normalizing gender dysphoria to young children” AFA’s Monica Cole said

TUPELO, Ms. – A leading national anti-LGBTQ+ group, The American Family Association, (AFA) listed by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a ‘Hate’ group for its lies and propaganda about LGBTQ+ rights and expression, pornography, and abortion is attacking Mattel toy company over its Laverne Cox Barbie Doll.
One ‘division’ of the AFA is the notorious One Million Moms headed by AFA’s Monica Cole who this past week sent out a newsletter attacking Mattel claiming that the toy company is hoping to have this doll placed in playrooms solely to “indoctrinate children into transgenderism and homosexuality.”
In the newsletter Cole also writes that “Mattel is purposely confusing our innocent children by attempting to destroy very definitive gender lines. Why can’t the toy manufacturer let kids be who God created them to be instead of glamorizing a sinful lifestyle?”
Full Text of the One Million Moms’ newsletter:
Mattel recently announced its launch of the first transgender Barbie doll as part of its #TRANSISBEAUTIFUL Tribute Collection, modeled after the Orange Is the New Black actor and LGBTQ activist Laverne Cox.
Mattel created a Barbie in his likeness, wearing a red, sheer evening gown with a faux leather strapless top, a tulle skirt, and a sparkly silver bodysuit underneath.
The Laverne Cox doll promotes cross-dressing and glorifies the transgender lifestyle. Mattel has created a toy glorifying gender inclusivity while ignoring one’s biological sex.
Barbie is also donating in Cox’s name to TransFamilySOS, an organization that describes its mission as a service “that saves lives by shaping a gender affirming and accepting community.”
It is outrageous that a toy company is marketing and normalizing gender dysphoria to young children.
Parents who are not already aware of the company’s agenda, please be forewarned: Children are being “groomed” by Mattel trans Barbie dolls under the disguise of playtime.
Now, parents will have to deal with the confusion experienced by their children when these inappropriate dolls are seen on store shelves such as Walmart, Target, and other stores that sell Barbie dolls.
This new product makes it clear that Mattel has an LGBTQ agenda that it is forcing on extremely young audiences.
Obviously, Mattel is attempting to “groom” the next generation. This company should be enhancing learning during play, but instead, Mattel is brainwashing our preschoolers and elementary-age children.
Mattel is hoping to have this doll placed in playrooms solely to indoctrinate children into transgenderism and homosexuality.
The company’s goal is to have everyone, even toddlers, accept the LGBTQ lifestyle, but a toy company should never even consider taking part in this abomination.
Mattel is purposely confusing our innocent children by attempting to destroy very definitive gender lines. Why can’t the toy manufacturer let kids be who God created them to be instead of glamorizing a sinful lifestyle?
Mattel is choosing to push an agenda of sexual confusion instead of promoting its actual product.
This PC-inclusive toy blurs the biological distinctions between males and females. Introducing children to this lifestyle choice is contrary to what conservative, Christian parents are teaching their children about God’s design.
Take Action now and demand that Mattel remove the controversial doll from shelves immediately!
TAKE ACTION: Sign our petition urging Mattel to discontinue production and sales of its trans Barbie doll immediately. Be sure to share this campaign with your friends and family!
BTS with Barbie!| Laverne Cox:
Editor’s Note: Order your Laverne Cox Barbie here!
Religious Extremism/Anti-LGBTQ+ Activism
Right-wing extremist provocateur threatens to ‘hunt’ LGBT supporters
He has a history of right-wing extremist short videos including a harassment campaign against an Arizona wig shop that serves cancer patients

PHOENIX – A twenty-four year old right-wing extremist based in the metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona area, Ethan Schmidt, posted a short video of himself accompanied by Kyle Clifton who describes himself as “authoritarian Christian nationalist,” driving in an undisclosed area announcing that he and Clifton will be “hunting ‘LGBT supporters” and people in area Target retail stores.
The video captured by Twitter account Patriot Takes, which describes itself as a group of dedicated researchers monitoring and exposing right-wing extremism and other threats to democracy, first posted the video clip Saturday.
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 has a history of making right-wing extremist short videos including a harassment campaign against an Arizona wig shop that serves cancer patients.
Sunny’s Hair and Wigs, specialize in making wigs for women who have lost hair while getting treated for cancer and the store had implemented coronavirus pandemic protections including strict mask guidelines to ensure safety of their clients who are particularly vulnerable to infection.
Lisa Memberr, the owner of the shop had explained to local media outlets: “My customer base is very diverse,” and she added, “Not only do I have Caucasians, I have Afro-Americans, I have Asians, I have Latin Americans.”
Schmidt, who has ban banned by nearly all social media platforms including Twitter for spreading false and misleading COVID-19 pandemic information had been visiting numerous retail stores in the Phoenix area including Sunny’s Hair and Wigs targeting those businesses that still require customers to wear mask. He invariably creates videos of his encounters which he uploads to right-wing social media and web sites that he hasn’t been banned from.
In addition to his anti-mask campaign he has made videos with extremist conservative lawmakers including one with Arizona U.S. Republican Representative Paul Gosar telling antivaxxers “to stay the course.”
Rep. Paul Gosar with Ethan Schmidt telling antivaxxers “to stay the course.”
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 21, 2022
This is the new Republican Party. pic.twitter.com/Z0ogrq8nO4
He also filmed a short with Arizona State Senator Wendy Rogers who has established herself firmly as an anti-vax, anti-LGBTQ, right wing extremist.
Arizona State Senator Wendy Rogers made a video promoting Ethan Schmidt, who is now stating he will “hunt LGBT supporters” at Target and across Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/1CBmJGHYvN
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 21, 2022
Clifton is a leader of the America First Union, an openly white nationalist, antisemitic, “conservative youth” organization. He also promotes former President Donald Trump’s big lie about the 2020 Presidential election being stolen by Democrats and President Joe Biden. Clifton also participated in the Arizona audit of the 2020 vote in Maricopa County, which state Sen. Rogers, had raised the visibility of her own political profile by insisting that Arizona’s vote was stolen.
A semi-copy of the“American Populist Union” has been organizing under the name America First Union. The local chapter is led by the openly antisemitic Kyle Clifton of Peoria, AZ who describes himself as an “authoritarian Christian nationalist.”https://t.co/OlyhxhK9kh
— AZ Right Wing Watch (@az_rww) October 8, 2021
Kyle Clifton is also obsessed with The Anti-Defamation League (see image above). He recently thought he went and filmed a rant in front of the Phoenix ADL headquarters, not realizing it has been long abandoned. pic.twitter.com/BjOxsme8fQ
— AZ Right Wing Watch (@az_rww) October 8, 2021
Last Fall Schmidt posed with Trump endorsed Republican candidate for Arizona Governor Kari Lake as he burned a LGBTQ+ Pride flag.
Kari Lake posed for an “Antimaskers Club” video with bigot Ethan Schmidt who burns rainbow flags.
— Resist Programming 🛰 (@RzstProgramming) September 28, 2021
This is who Trump endorsed. pic.twitter.com/mnTFqdjaAZ
Religious Extremism/Anti-LGBTQ+ Activism
Ben Shapiro: “If we had a Supreme Court […] they’d overturn Obergefell”
Ben Shapiro on the May 4, 2022, edition of The Daily Wire’s The Ben Shapiro Show, attacked same-sex marriage, Trans rights, and Democrats


By Media Matters | WASHINGTON – Right-wing conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro on the May 4, 2022, edition of The Daily Wire’s The Ben Shapiro Show, attacked same-sex marriage, Trans rights, and Democrats.
Transcript:
BEN SHAPIRO (HOST): Meanwhile, the Democrats are really trying to push hard, particularly the Democrats in the media. So you’ve got ABC’s Terry Moran saying, you never know what they might do next. What are they going to do next? My God, the Supreme Court – they might actually go back and overrule Loving v. Virginia and allow states to ban interracial marriage. Oh really? That wasn’t even based on the right to privacy, you idiots. That’s based on the equal protection clause. Wrong constitutional clause, you morons.
And then they try to claim, well, they might overturn Obergefell. First of all, Obergefell is a bad Supreme Court decision and if we had a Supreme Court worth its salt, they would overturn Obergefell. But they’re not going to. They explicitly say — Alito says, I think three separate times in that decision that I read in nearly its totality on the air yesterday, that this has no impact on other cases of different lines. Which is a clear reference to Obergefell, repeatedly.
But Democrats know deep in the cockles of their tiny little Grinch-like hearts on abortion, they know that the abortion issue is not a winner. So they’re trying to expand it out – well, you never know. The Supreme Court, they might go after gay rights, they might go after — sure, you’re right. The same Supreme Court in which Neil Gorsuch idiotically ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 covers transgender people is now going to overrule Obergefell.
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The preceding article was previously published by Media Matters for America and is republished by permission.
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