Hate Group’s Anti-Muslim Rhetoric Reflects Anti-LGBTQ+ Conspiracy Theories
Between July 30 and Aug. 10, Jaimee Michell, the founder and current president of the anti-LGBTQ+ hate group Gays Against Groomers, posted a series of comments on X, formerly Twitter, equating Islam with pedophilia, characterizing Muslim faith as “a cancer on this world” and sharing content from an account that claims Europe is being invaded by immigrants and Muslims.
The comments, which are similar to the anti-LGBTQ+ “groomer” rhetoric the group is known for, show the adaptability of false conspiracy theories that generally claim white cisgender children are under threat. Both the “groomer” conspiracy theory, which has historical roots in anti-Black, antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns, and “great replacement”-style rhetoric are derived from white nationalist beliefs that white people and culture are being intentionally eradicated, often at the direction of Jewish people.
Michell’s comments came after the July 29 stabbing deaths of three children at a dance workshop in Southport, England. Following the attacks, racist violence targeting immigrants and Muslims erupted in London and other cities in the U.K., spurred by far-right activists spreading disinformation about the attacker online, according to the BBC.
Recirculating hateful content
The series of tweets included a video featuring Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes sharing racist pseudoscientific claims about Southeast Asian and Arab people on a 2017 episode of Joe Rogan’s podcast. The episode was one of dozens of episodes that were deleted from Spotify’s streaming library in 2022, according to Rolling Stone.
In the clip, Rogan and McInnes discuss a 2010 pseudoscientific article from PJ Media that relies on ableist and racist tropes about Southeast Asian people, Arab people and Islam to ultimately advocate barring Muslims from immigrating to Europe. According to PJ Media, which was purchased by the right-wing Salem Media Group in 2019, information in the article was derived from an interview between the author and the founder of the anti-Muslim hate group Glazov Gang Productions.
Michell’s repost of the clip uses alternating capital letters – which implies a mocking tone in internet memes – to suggest that the “culture” of Southeast Asian people, Arab people and Muslims is not “equal” to other cultures. Other far-right figures, including Matt Walsh, recirculated the clip on their social media accounts.
In a July 30 post, Michell asked, “How much longer must the West suffer before enough people realize Islam is incompatible with civilized society?” The post concluded, “It [Islam] is a cancer on this world.”
GAG’s connections to hate groups
Gays Against Groomers (GAG) has previously received support from McInnes and one of the leading figures of the far right in the U.K., Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Robinson has been convicted in the U.K. of numerous crimes related to his political agitation, including assault, fraud, stalking and contempt of court.
In a Sept. 27, 2023, post, GAG shared a video featuring Robinson and McInnes praising the group for its tactics. GAG perpetuates the anti-LGBTQ+ myth that transgender people and their allies are grooming children. In the video, Robinson thanked GAG for “driv[ing] that big wedge for the world to see between the gay community and this mad sexualization of children.”
The Southern Poverty Law Center has previously reported that GAG’s former director of chapters appeared at events with Proud Boys members, carrying a sign with the group’s logo.
Image at top: Recent anti-Muslim comments by Jaimee Michell, center, the founder and president of the anti-LGBTQ+ hate group Gays Against Groomers, are similar to the anti-LGBTQ+ “groomer” rhetoric the group is known for.
