The Non-prophets

Salon, Matthew Rosza, January 30, 2023 http://bit.ly/3xcJxyHThis segment discusses the moral panic surrounding the term "grooming," particularly in relation to LGBTQ+ people, and how it is being weaponized by right-wing politicians, particularly in Florida under Ron DeSantis. Historically, moral panics have been used to demonize specific groups—examples include the witch hunts and the Nazis' rise to power. The latest iteration of this tactic is the banning of books and restricting discussions around LGBTQ+ topics in schools under the pretense of "protecting children." The panel critiques the effectiveness of this fear-based messaging, pointing out that invoking child safety is an emotional trigger that stirs public outrage, even when there's no factual basis. The term "grooming" is being misused to conflate LGBTQ+ identities with pedophilia, despite no evidence supporting such a connection. Instead of addressing actual risk factors for child abuse—such as poverty, lack of education, and inadequate mental heal