Donald Trump is to speak at the Moms for Liberty Summit in Washington, DC, on Friday, August 30. It is Trump’s second time appearing before the anti-LGBTQ book banning extremist group. Moms for Liberty-endorsed and affiliated candidates have repeatedly lost in recent elections and additional tactics to target LGBTQ students have failed in court.
Facts:
Moms for Liberty is an extremist hate group, identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center. SPLC research here.
GLAAD documentation of Moms for Liberty and founders’ anti-LGBTQ history, here.
It is inaccurate to describe, shorthand, or repeat quotes that claim Moms for Liberty is a “parents rights” group. Moms for Liberty does not represent the rights of the majority of parents, including LGBTQ parents, parents of color, parents of LGBTQ students, or parents who want their children to learn accurate and inclusive history.
Moms for Liberty has always been funded and supported by national extremist activist groups. It is not “grassroots.” Do report: Moms for Liberty has longstanding ties to Project 2025 authors Heritage Foundation, Gov. Ron DeSantis, and cofounder Bridget Ziegler is married to the former head of the Florida Republican Party, Christian Ziegler. Christian Ziegler was ousted from his post following rape allegations by a woman having a sexual relationship with both Christian and Bridget Ziegler.
Moms for Liberty is an anti-LGBTQ book banning group. Book bans are deeply unpopular. The group has tried to claim it merely supports “appropriate” materials or placement. Efforts to restrict, reclassify or remove books are book bans. The majority of banned books are about and by LGBTQ people and people of color.
Moms for Liberty has invited extremists to its events including members of Oath Keepers, supported chapter members who quote Hitler, and coordinated with white supremacist extremist Proud Boys.
Donald Trump’s associations with white supremacist and anti-LGBTQ extremist groups are documented here.
Moms for Liberty cofounders have spread false and grotesque lies about LGBTQ people that endanger all children. Experts in child safety have criticized such “grooming” rhetoric as undermining understanding of actual abuse. Do not repeat this rhetoric without noting it is false, baseless, and dangerous.
Moms for Liberty-affiliated candidates have been resoundingly defeated in recent elections – including in their home state of Florida last week. Moms for Liberty candidates were also trounced in elections from Pennsylvania to Ohio to Iowa in November 2023. Chapters have closed in states due to lack of interest and efficacy.
Following electoral defeats and public humiliation of its hypocritical founders, Moms for Liberty is now reconstituting and again failing with extremist politicians and legal groups to protest the new Title IX regulation expansion, which protects students by prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. LGBTQ students are among the most physically and verbally harassed at school. All students deserve to be themselves, to be safe, and to have access to school facilities and activities. Ask Moms for Liberty supporters for evidence of harm in inclusive schools, and if they have seen research that shows schools that protect LGBTQ students are safer for all students.
GLAAD’s Voter Poll shows voters of all parties oppose candidates who center campaigns on attacking transgender people:
- 53% of registered and likely 2024 voters say they would oppose “a political candidate [who] speaks frequently about restricting access to health care and participation in sports for transgender youth.”
- Voters overwhelmingly believe that decisions about health care and mental health services for transgender youth should be made by parents: 81% of likely 2024 voters, 83% of swing voters, and 73% of Trump voters agree.
A recent Knight Foundation survey found two-thirds of Americans oppose efforts to restrict books in public schools. 78% of adults are confident that their public schools select appropriate books for students to read.
GLAAD has tracked Donald Trump’s more than 220 attacks against LGBTQ people via policy and rhetoric throughout his one term presidency and current campaign, here.
Trump’s record on education including efforts to target transgender students and endanger safety in public education is documented here.