Monkeypox-related Propaganda is a Vector for LGBTQ+ Hate
It will get worse. Biden needs to address this.
Background
I have been concerned about monkeypox from the moment it was clear that there was a sudden unexplained outbreak of a deadly disease in Europe thousands of miles from where the virus usually lives. In the current geopolitical climate, with a totalist maniac running loose in Europe who happens to have a huge bioweapons program, it seemed worth asking the question. Is this outbreak manmade?
I wrote three, more, articles about this in May. Since then, the outbreak continues to spread with no explanation for its origin, other than the initial outbreak came largely from an 80,000 person Pride event on the island of Gibraltar. The source of the outbreak, and the nature of gay sex in combination with how the disease spreads, has so far made the primary route of transmission men who have sex with men (MSM).
While I am not an epidemiologist, this guy is, and he raises a lot of great questions about Russia’s bioweapons program in conjunction with the current outbreak.
This includes the important observation that Russia seemed unusually prepared for this event.
Within two weeks of the outbreak — which was nowhere near Russia — Putin had already started vaccinating health care workers.
A Vector for Hate
Regardless of its origin, monkeypox has provided propagandists with an ideal platform to build harmful conspiracy theories, especially because Putin had already spread propaganda about “biolabs” in Ukraine.
Indeed, the most harmful characteristic of this outbreak so far is not the physical illness but the completely unwarranted stigma it is bringing to the LGBTQ+ community because of targeted propaganda.
Telegram
I monitor disinformation on Telegram with a selection of 500 channels of propaganda including everything from “PastelAnon” to eliminationist neo-nazis. In my experience, it’s a good proxy for the disinformation climate overall.
TW: Hate speech below
Like many others, I have noted an alarming rise on LGBTQ+ hate across all propaganda channels. Months ago, the same people who started the harmful anti-CRT psyop at the Manhattan Institute, started to talk about Disney being “groomers” etc. which was then spread by people like Mike Flynn and his QAnon cult. I will note that Putin is infamously homophobic and transphobic and uses gay and trans people as scapegoats in his authoritarian regime.
From the beginning of the monkeypox outbreak, Telegram has been focused on the virus and also used it as fodder for whatever psyop they’re running at the time — regardless of whether it makes any sense.
The anti-vax cult has been freaking out about how this is another “Plandemic.”
Here’s Mike Flynn’s old lawyer and seditious co-conspirator, Sidney Powell, spreading monkeypox propaganda about a fake relationship to COVID vaccines. Peter McCullough is the guy who recently went on Joe Rogan’s show to spread anti-vax lies which got him a scolding from Spotify.
And here is Mike Flynn himself making stuff up about monkeypox, with his other seditious co-conspirators Kash Patel and Alex Jones.
Yesterday a video went viral on TikTok of someone who had monkeypox and provides good context for what it’s like to have it but also blames the CDC for lack of testing and mentions an “MRNA vaccine.”
The video has provided a feast of raw meat for propaganda channels on Telegram with most of it using it to blame gay men.
For example this neo-nazi channel this morning.
Here’s neo-nazi Nick Fuentes reposting Mike Flynn propagandist Stew Peters using monkeypox for hate speech.
On Peter Thiel’s propaganda video platform Rumble, there are endless conspiracies about monkeypox including “Styxhexenhammer666” who is a notorious neo-nazi, homophobic propagandist who lives in his mom’s basement in Europe.
What now?
For whatever reason, the monkeypox virus has simultaneously arisen and spread primarily among MSM (in primarily NATO countries.)
At the same time we have seen increased violence and harassment at Pride events and gay-friendly events like Proud Boys traumatizing kids at “Drag Queen Story Hour.” Two people were murdered at a Pride event last week after neo-nazis tried to attack a Pride event in Idaho.
Monkeypox is being increasingly used as a vector for hate, not just against LGBTQ+ but increasingly focused on them.
The lack of communication by the administration on this subject is giving disinformation agents and propagandists the time and space to repeat these lies until it’s too hard to undo them in cult members’ minds. Our government must come out and say what they know and don’t know. Stat.
In the meantime, the rest of us in this reality should understand this new threat environment, and step up to be the strongest and most helpful allies we can for our neighbors, friends and family. They are going to continue to be scapegoated by fascist terrorists who use them to radicalize bigots.
Not on our fucking watch. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🇺🇸
Yeah, it fits in line with Putin's 'Gayropa' propaganda line.
I cannot tell you all how much the increased targeting of the LGBTQ+ community frightens me. It brings up memories of death threats and worse. I witnessed several skinheads assaulting a gay man who made the mistake of leaving a gay bar alone, at night. A couple of the men (there were 4 to 5) had what looked like 2x4 pieces of wood. This was before we had cell phones, but our home was only a couple of blocks away from the location. We just happened to be passing by on the way home from my parents' house, two women with our toddler daughter. We got home and phoned 911 immediately, but to this day I have no idea if the Denver police showed up or what happened to the man. I never did see a news story or, thank goodness, an obituary from that night. I have been out as a Bi woman for nearly 40 years. I was an activist for a number of years before I was disabled, part of Boycott Colorado and co-founder and leader of the Lesbian Avengers branch in Denver.
Let me just add, as a white woman, I can "pass." It was horrific enough the things I heard and witnessed, but I cannot imagine the pain and trauma that my BlPoC brothers and sisters have lived with their entire lives. We cannot regress further!