NHPR’s Todd Bookman recently wrote an article claiming that LGBTQ people are in danger of being attacked by “hate groups,” and that some have begun arming themselves, and training, in response to this alleged threat. Here is the headline:
From the article:
Every member of the group has a different story about how they arrived here, feeling the need to carry a weapon for self-defense.
“I went from concealed carry every once in a while when I was feeling it to every single day,” explains Sharon, a Navy veteran and competitive shooter who transitioned last year. “Because reading the news, having a few experiences, realizing that I’ve gone from: old cis-male, white, upper middle class, really no real fears about anything, to: there are people that just looking at me will want to hurt me.”
Sharon, along with others, cite both the fear of being targeted while simply existing in public, as well as a more organized and ominous threat. A neo-Nazi group now active in New England has targeted spaces where trans people gather.
“There’s been an uptick in hate crimes, there’s been an uptick in groups that have been protesting drag story times and drag shows, and it felt like I needed to learn how to protect myself,” says Jamie, who is carrying a new pistol she received as a gift for Christmas.
This is jaw-dropping. Protesting drag shows … in plain English, protesting the sexualization of children … is portrayed uncritically by Bookman as the equivalent of a hate crime towards transgender people and the people who protest drag shows are portrayed as representing an existential threat to transgender people. Wow! Is it that big a step to seeing the religious school in Nashville as an equivalent threat to the “haters” who protest drag shows, Mr. Bookman?
And where are the data and facts regarding that “Neo-Nazi group” operating in New Hampshire that Bookman claims is “targeting spaces.” And what the hell is “targeting spaces” supposed to mean? New Hampshire has some form of trans/cis apartheid where there are “spaces” reserved for transgender people?
And how about the uncritical portrayal of Sharon, who apparently can just by looking at someone tell whether that person is a threat? Such as people working at or attending religious schools, Mr. Bookman?
Here’s Bookman promoting his propaganda:
And hat-tip to Tucker Carlson for exposing Bookman’s hate-speech and the potential ramifications:
Almost prophetically, just last week, Tucker Carlson covered NPR's fawning coverage of armed Trans groups like "Rainbow Reload":
"We’re as for guns as you could possibly be, but this seems like an incitement" pic.twitter.com/0DIx7PUrkG
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 27, 2023
