GLAAD STATEMENT ON FBI ALERT REGARDING ANTI-LGBTQ AND RACIST TEXT MESSAGING CAMPAIGNS

GLAAD: “All leaders and public figures must speak out against behavior and words that make every American less safe, and work to strengthen protections for all communities under attack. Anti-LGBTQ politicians cannot choose silence over safety. Americans can and should follow the ball here: these horrific texts come on the heels of a right wing smear campaign that targeted and dehumanized transgender people. LGBTQ people and all marginalized people deserve safety and protection from dangerous and disgusting rhetoric and intimidation tactics.”

(November 18, 2024 – New York, NY)  GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, is responding to an FBI alert about texting campaigns against LGBTQ people and against other marginalized Americans. 

The FBI issued a statement on November 15th and included details of the text campaigns that have expanded from racist texts targeting Black people to “high school students, as well as both the Hispanic and LGBTQIA+ communities. Some recipients reported being told they were selected for deportation or to report to a re-education camp. The messages have also been reported as being received via email communication.”

“Re-education camps” may allude to the discredited and dangerous practice of so-called “conversion therapy” which is now banned in at least 22 states and 115 municipalities. 

The FBI urges anyone who has received the harassing messages to report the details to the FBI by phone at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or online at tips.fbi.gov.

GLAAD has documented the anti-LGBTQ rhetoric of politicians and groups supporting them on the GLAAD Accountability Project, including rhetoric and policy proposals suggested before and during the 2024 election.

Research on the multi-million dollar surge of anti-transgender campaign ads shows they did not motivate voter choices, but did undermine support for transgender people.

Additional analysis shows a dramatic rise post-election violent and harassing messages aimed at women and girls online and in schools.

Statement from GLAAD President and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis:
“All leaders and public figures must speak out against behavior and words that make every American less safe, and work to strengthen protections for all communities under attack. Anti-LGBTQ politicians cannot choose silence over safety. Americans can and should follow the ball here: these horrific texts come on the heels of a right wing smear campaign that targeted and dehumanized transgender people. LGBTQ people and all marginalized people deserve safety and protection from dangerous and disgusting rhetoric and intimidation tactics.”

GLAAD tracks anti-LGBTQ incidents via its ALERT Desk (Anti-LGBTQ Extremism Reporting Tracker), including reports submitted by LGBTQ people. Incidents rose by 112% over the last two years including murders, assault, bomb threats and violence. The GLAAD Accountability Project also documents false and dehumanizing anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and fraudulent text messaging campaigns of public figures and groups including American Principles Project and its executive director Terry Schilling.