Before the fight for same-sex marriage, advocates had to overcome unscientific prejudice against homosexuality, which was classified as a mental illness.

Christianist activists played into this, claiming that no one was bi, gay or lesbian. Instead, they "had a homosexuality."

An entire organization was created called the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality which was a front group for religious bigots to launder their doctrine through the language of psychology.

Christianists totally lost this battle so they do not use this language any more.

They still believe it though and they continue trying to keep their abusive "conversion therapy" programs, aka suicide factories, legal.

The No. 1 thing to understand about Christianists is that they never tell you what they actually think.

The leaders of these groups literally believe that everyone who is LGBT is under the influence or control of Satan.

But they know this comes off as insane to normal people.

The vast majority of people don't hold such superstitions, but they might be susceptible to the idea that being trans is contagious, just like many believed earlier about homosexuality and lies about "recruitment."

Having failed to make convincing scientific arguments, the Christian Right made up a fake argument to rail against: "transgenderism."

It's a complete lie, since there are many #trans people who are Republican. Being trans is not an inherently political act.

But by pretending it is, the far right can equate trans rights to communism or religion, making it much easier to isolate trans people, including within LGB communities.

They can also make remarks that incite violence while also having a shred of plausible deniability.

It's deceitful of course, but dishonesty and double speak is their entire modus operandi.

Just as "eradicating Judaism" means eradicating Jews, so does "eradicating transgenderism" mean eradicating trans people.

Their vision is no different from Iran where homosexuality is illegal and people are forced to have sex reassignment surgery.

Christianists dare not say what they actually want because to do so would imperil their ability to deceive the uninformed about the bugaboo of "gender ideology."

When you can convince people to believe a radical, world destroying force is at work, anything is permissible.

This is how they keep the dupes in line, by making them think that the real extremists are people trying to live their lives.

Millions have fallen for this deception, sadly.