Why aren’t Republicans demanding to make churches adults-only venues? Why aren’t they demanding the Boys Scouts be disbanded? Because their culture war against the LGBTQ+ community has nothing to do with protecting children and everything to do with Republicans manufacturing outrage to rile up their base.
In the contentious world of political rhetoric, words matter. They shape narratives, mold public opinion, and, in the hands of savvy politicians, can serve as covert signals to specific audiences. Today, the term du jour among conservatives is "grooming," a deeply troubling case of dog-whistling aimed at undermining LGBTQ+ civil liberties under the guise of protecting children.