By John Q. Hosedrinker The recent shooting at the Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, has once again highlighted the problematic behavior of the far right. In their desperate attempts to push their baseless narrative that trans people are inherently dangerous, they have resorted to spreading misinformation about the shooter’s identity. This is not surprising, as trans people seem to live rent-free in the minds of conservatives.
What is truly shocking is the fact that if the shooter had been someone they had helped radicalize, they would have dismissed it as a “false flag” operation. It’s clear that when it comes to their own, they conveniently ignore the facts, but when it suits their agenda, they are quick to spread lies.
Moreover, it is important to note that the shooter was being treated for schizophrenia, according to her ex-mother-in-law. This raises questions about the lack of proper mental health support and the absence of a “red flag law” in Texas that would have allowed concerned family members to remove firearms from individuals they believe to be a danger.
But rather than discussing these critical issues, the far right has chosen to focus on spreading misinformation about the individual’s gender identity. They are desperate to make “trans terrorism” a thing, even if it means pushing out incorrect or false information. This highlights their disregard for the truth and their willingness to go to any lengths to shore up their baseless narrative.
I personally witnessed this misinformation being spread on platforms like r/Conservative, where it was all over the comments. However, I immediately doubted the claim when I saw a popular post claiming the shooter was trans. I did my own research, but there was no credible information to support this narrative. It’s important to approach such claims with skepticism and not readily accept them without proper evidence.
The source for this misinformation was something akin to a random tweet, which is hardly a reliable source. It is clear that this misinformation likely originated from a person like Chaya Raichik, who has a history of spreading false information. It’s distressing to see how quickly these claims can spread, even without any substantial evidence backing them.
It’s crucial to question the motives behind spreading such misinformation. What do those on the far right gain by falsely claiming that the shooter was trans? The answer seems to lie in their desire to paint trans people as dangerous and further marginalize them. It’s a deliberate attempt to provoke fear and hatred towards transgender individuals.
As a society, we need to reject these baseless narratives and focus on the real issues surrounding incidents of violence. Gender identity or sexuality has no bearing on someone’s propensity for violence. It is the act of murder itself that is problematic, not the individual’s gender identity or sexual orientation.
We must also recognize the struggles that LGBTQ+ individuals face, especially trans people who often experience rejection and violence from their own families. The high rates of homelessness among LGBTQ+ youth reflect the harsh reality they often encounter due to lack of familial support.
In the case of the Lakewood Church shooting, it’s disheartening to see that even after the police clarified that the shooter was not trans, outlets like Drudge Report and Fox News continued to spread this misinformation. This speaks to the larger issue of media responsibility and the need for accurate reporting.
In conclusion, it is clear that the far right is spreading misinformation in an attempt to further their baseless narrative that trans people are inherently dangerous. We must challenge these false claims and focus on the underlying issues that contribute to acts of violence. Painting an entire group of people as potential terrorists based on gender identity or sexuality is not only unfair, but it also perpetuates harmful stereotypes. Let us reject this misinformation and work towards a more inclusive and accepting society.