MAGA Heidi Perpetuates Anti-LGBTQ Hoax, Claims to Care About Youth Mental Health
Says Kids are “Identifying As Cats”
Facing a double-digit deficit in the gubernatorial race, Colorado GOP candidate Heidi Ganahl has devolved into repeating outright lies–targeting marginalized children, no less.
Yesterday, 9NEWS reported on Ganahl’s bizarre claim that kids in Colorado schools are “identifying as cats.” When 9NEWS asked for evidence, the Ganahl campaign only provided an uncredited photo of an animal costume.
This hoax has been thoroughly discredited, and LGBTQ advocates have made clear that this is a far-right conspiracy theory meant to invalidate trans youth, much like claims of bestiality were used to undermine the gay marriage equality movement.
As 9NEWS anchor Kyle Clark noted, the reality is that youth suicide is estimated to be six times higher in trans youth, largely as a result of the kind of harassment that Ganahl is perpetuating.
“Heidi Ganahl’s use of this anti-trans hoax targeting kids is not only false, it is cruel. But this is exactly the extremism we’ve come to expect from her.” –Colorado Democratic Party spokesperson Kailee Stiles