The Anti-Queer Playbook: How Far-Right Influencers Are Fueling New Attacks on LGBTQ+ Lives

It’s a familiar feeling for many LGBTQ+ people: waking up to another viral outrage, another pundit’s tirade, another round of headlines about laws targeting queer lives. But behind the relentless drumbeat of anti-LGBTQ+ attacks, a new cast of far-right influencers is working overtime to turn hate into clicks, and clicks into policy—often with chillingly real results.

Names like Matt Walsh, Chaya Raichik (the force behind Libs of TikTok), Laura Loomer, and Candace Owens have become shorthand for a style of activism that’s as digital as it is dangerous. These influencers aren’t just shouting into the void; they’re curating outrage, amplifying conspiracy theories, and accelerating campaigns that move seamlessly from social media timelines to statehouse floors. Their targets? Transgender people, drag performers, queer youth, and anyone championing LGBTQ+ rights.

Scroll through the feeds of these figures, and the pattern becomes clear: a relentless focus on portraying LGBTQ+ visibility as a threat, particularly in schools, youth spaces, and public celebrations. Matt Walsh, whose documentary “What Is a Woman?” has been cited in hearings for anti-trans legislation, frames transgender people as “a cultural threat” and regularly headlines conferences where anti-trans bills are drafted and promoted.

But perhaps no influencer has wielded social media more explosively than Chaya Raichik, aka Libs of TikTok. Raichik’s posts take videos from queer creators, drag performers, and educators, recasting them with inflammatory commentary. Security experts have called her tactics “stochastic terrorism”—a strategy of inciting harassment and violence against marginalized groups while maintaining plausible deniability. Major media investigations have documented a direct line between her posts and harassment campaigns targeting LGBTQ+-inclusive schools, libraries, and community centers.

The effects are impossible to ignore:

- At least twenty-one bomb threats have been linked to Libs of TikTok posts, with queer venues, hospitals, and teachers especially targeted.

- Pride events in Dallas and Coeur d’Alene faced coordinated disruptions and threats following Raichik’s posts, with law enforcement directly citing her account in their investigations.

- In the wake of mass violence, such as the Club Q shooting, Raichik doubled down on targeting other drag-inclusive events in the same state, intensifying the climate of fear for local LGBTQ+ communities.

As former Homeland Security official Juliette Kayyem told The Advocate, “social media accounts such as Libs of TikTok practice stochastic terrorism by provoking extremist outrage against marginalized groups, but using ‘vague language that allows the agitator to deny responsibility for the act.’”

The anti-LGBTQ+ influencer playbook is painfully familiar, but newly potent:

- Frame queer inclusion as “indoctrination” or “grooming.” This language—once the domain of fringe conspiracies—has become mainstream in far-right commentary, echoing through state legislatures and school board meetings.

- Target queer educators, youth events, and Pride celebrations.** Posts that single out individuals or organizations often lead to doxxing, threats, and mass harassment campaigns.

- Pressure corporations and politicians. From boycotts of Pride marketing to campaigns against diversity initiatives, these influencers leverage their followings to push companies and lawmakers into retreat.

- Claim victimhood when called out. When mainstream media or LGBTQ+ advocates challenge their tactics, influencers often cry censorship, free speech violations, or frame themselves as under siege—a move designed to further energize their base.

One particularly striking example: when French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife sued Candace Owens for claiming, without evidence, that Brigitte Macron is transgender, Owens used the lawsuit to double down on her anti-trans messaging and fundraise from her followers.

Despite this onslaught, LGBTQ+ communities—and their allies—aren’t just weathering the storm. They’re fighting back with creativity, solidarity, and a refusal to be erased.

- Drag performers and queer educators are speaking out about the threats they face, refusing to let far-right intimidation silence gender expression or queer storytelling.

- Grassroots networks are tracking harassment campaigns, providing support to targets, and mobilizing rapid response teams to counter misinformation and offer safety resources.

- Legal advocacy groups are challenging discriminatory policies in court, turning the same headlines weaponized by influencers into rallying points for equality and justice.

- Queer media—from TikTokers to national outlets—are reclaiming the narrative with stories of resilience, pride, and joy that push back against the culture of fear.

As one activist told The Advocate, “We’re not going anywhere. We’ve survived worse, and we’re not about to let a handful of influencers erase our history, our rights, or our futures.”

For every viral hate campaign, there’s an equally powerful current of queer joy and solidarity. The far-right’s playbook may be loud, but LGBTQ+ communities have always known how to write new scripts—ones rooted in truth, dignity, and the radical act of living authentically.

So next time you see another anti-queer firestorm trending, remember: you’re not alone, you’re not invisible, and the story isn’t over. The spotlight is ours to claim.