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common-sources-misinfo [2025/12/30 02:43] – [CAN-SG's Network] valahcommon-sources-misinfo [2025/12/30 02:48] (current) – [Example: The Swedish Study Misuse] valah
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 **Stella O'Malley** (Genspect founder) – Described as suppressing gender identity in therapy and lacking empathy for trans youth   **Stella O'Malley** (Genspect founder) – Described as suppressing gender identity in therapy and lacking empathy for trans youth  
-**Michael Biggs** – Anti-trans campaigner linked to prolific troll accounts  + 
 +**Michael Biggs** – Anti-trans campaigner linked to prolific troll accounts  
 + 
 **Richard Byng** – Member of SEGM pseudoscience network   **Richard Byng** – Member of SEGM pseudoscience network  
 +
 Speakers from **Sex Matters**, **Transgender Trend**, and other connected anti-trans groups   Speakers from **Sex Matters**, **Transgender Trend**, and other connected anti-trans groups  
  
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 Connected to SEGM and CAN-SG are: Connected to SEGM and CAN-SG are:
  
-- **Sex Matters** – UK-based gender-critical organization+**Sex Matters** – UK-based gender-critical organization
  
-- **Transgender Trend** – Anti-trans advocacy group presenting itself as "concerned parents"+**Transgender Trend** – Anti-trans advocacy group presenting itself as "concerned parents"
  
-- **Alliance Defending Freedom** – Multimillion-dollar Christian legal organization with lawyers worldwide attacking LGBTQ+ rights, including bans on gender-affirming care [(pb6)]+**Alliance Defending Freedom** – Multimillion-dollar Christian legal organization with lawyers worldwide attacking LGBTQ+ rights, including bans on gender-affirming care [(pb6)]
  
-- **American College of Pediatricians** – Fringe organization founded in 2002, unrepresentative of actual pediatric consensus but frequently cited as authority+**American College of Pediatricians** – Fringe organization founded in 2002, unrepresentative of actual pediatric consensus but frequently cited as authority
  
 These organizations cross-reference each other, share speakers, coordinate messaging, and work toward aligned policy goals. These organizations cross-reference each other, share speakers, coordinate messaging, and work toward aligned policy goals.
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 Anti-trans organizations explicitly produce **white papers and reports designed to provide legal cover for legislation**, not to advance scientific understanding. [(pb7)] As researchers note: Anti-trans organizations explicitly produce **white papers and reports designed to provide legal cover for legislation**, not to advance scientific understanding. [(pb7)] As researchers note:
  
-> These white papers' explicit purpose is to manufacture justification for banning gender-affirming care (or at minimum, denying Medicaid coverage) that will be plausibly defensible in court.+> //These white papers' explicit purpose is to manufacture justification for banning gender-affirming care (or at minimum, denying Medicaid coverage) that will be plausibly defensible in court.//
  
 SEGM members have been directly involved in drafting anti-trans bills and providing testimony, blurring the line between "clinical advice" and political advocacy. SEGM members have been directly involved in drafting anti-trans bills and providing testimony, blurring the line between "clinical advice" and political advocacy.
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 The pathway from disinformation to law follows this pattern: The pathway from disinformation to law follows this pattern:
  
-- 1. **Generate pseudoscience** – SEGM, CAN-SG, and partner organizations produce reports using poor methodology, misquoted research, and fringe experts +  - **Generate pseudoscience** – SEGM, CAN-SG, and partner organizations produce reports using poor methodology, misquoted research, and fringe experts 
- +  - **Amplify through media** – Right-wing and mainstream media outlets uncritically report on these claims 
-- 2. **Amplify through media** – Right-wing and mainstream media outlets uncritically report on these claims +  - **Influence politicians** – Legislators cite these manufactured "studies" as justification for bills 
- +  - **Pass discriminatory legislation** – Anti-trans bills proliferate, often using language directly copied from pseudoscience networks
-- 3. **Influence politicians** – Legislators cite these manufactured "studies" as justification for bills +
- +
-- 4. **Pass discriminatory legislation** – Anti-trans bills proliferate, often using language directly copied from pseudoscience networks+
  
 In 2024, over **500 anti-trans bills** were proposed or adopted in the United States, with many directly citing SEGM-produced materials. In 2025, **1,020 bills** are under consideration. [(pb8)] In 2024, over **500 anti-trans bills** were proposed or adopted in the United States, with many directly citing SEGM-produced materials. In 2025, **1,020 bills** are under consideration. [(pb8)]
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 The Manhattan Institute, founded in 1978 with over $14 million annual budget, employs **Chris Rufo** and **Leor Sapir**, both directly connected to SEGM and FAIR. Rufo, in particular, has been instrumental in: The Manhattan Institute, founded in 1978 with over $14 million annual budget, employs **Chris Rufo** and **Leor Sapir**, both directly connected to SEGM and FAIR. Rufo, in particular, has been instrumental in:
  
-- Injecting anti-LGBTQ+ pseudoscience into the intellectual mainstream of American conservatism +  * Injecting anti-LGBTQ+ pseudoscience into the intellectual mainstream of American conservatism 
- +  * Using The City Journal to disseminate anti-trans narratives "often by obfuscating key details that muddy his points" 
-- Using The City Journal to disseminate anti-trans narratives "often by obfuscating key details that muddy his points" +  * Building what a 2022 New York Times profile called an "intellectual cover" for "flawed and inflammatory work"
- +
-- Building what a 2022 New York Times profile called an "intellectual cover" for "flawed and inflammatory work"+
  
 In June 2023, Colin Wright (SEGM board member and Manhattan Institute fellow) and Leor Sapir published a Wall Street Journal editorial attacking federal court decisions protecting transgender healthcare access. **The editorial failed to disclose** Wright's SEGM membership, that SEGM members provided expert testimony in the cases being discussed, or the authors' collaboration on anti-trans messaging. [(pb11)] In June 2023, Colin Wright (SEGM board member and Manhattan Institute fellow) and Leor Sapir published a Wall Street Journal editorial attacking federal court decisions protecting transgender healthcare access. **The editorial failed to disclose** Wright's SEGM membership, that SEGM members provided expert testimony in the cases being discussed, or the authors' collaboration on anti-trans messaging. [(pb11)]
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 UnHerd's function within the disinformation ecosystem: UnHerd's function within the disinformation ecosystem:
  
-- Publishes prominent anti-trans narratives and opinion columns targeting conservative audiences +  * Publishes prominent anti-trans narratives and opinion columns targeting conservative audiences 
- +  * Platforms SEGM-affiliated experts and gender-critical advocates without disclosure of network connections 
-- Platforms SEGM-affiliated experts and gender-critical advocates without disclosure of network connections +  * In April 2024, was placed on the **Global Disinformation Index's Dynamic Exclusion List** after publishing "anti-trans narratives," prompting advertisers to withdraw [(pb15)] 
- +  * Presents anti-trans arguments as serious editorial content rather than political advocacy
-- In April 2024, was placed on the **Global Disinformation Index's Dynamic Exclusion List** after publishing "anti-trans narratives," prompting advertisers to withdraw [(pb15)] +
- +
-- Presents anti-trans arguments as serious editorial content rather than political advocacy+
  
 ===== UnHerd's Response to Scrutiny ===== ===== UnHerd's Response to Scrutiny =====
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 Reduxx's website claims to be **"100% independent and does not receive any funding from special interest groups, governments, or big media corporations."** [(pb18)] However, its operational strategy and messaging align precisely with coordinated anti-trans networks: Reduxx's website claims to be **"100% independent and does not receive any funding from special interest groups, governments, or big media corporations."** [(pb18)] However, its operational strategy and messaging align precisely with coordinated anti-trans networks:
  
-- Claims to be "independent" while publishing coordinated anti-trans narratives that align with SEGM, Genspect, and gender-critical networks +  * Claims to be "independent" while publishing coordinated anti-trans narratives that align with SEGM, Genspect, and gender-critical networks 
- +  * Focuses on amplifying sensationalized, anecdotal, and often decontextualized stories framed as evidence of trans people's danger 
-- Focuses on amplifying sensationalized, anecdotal, and often decontextualized stories framed as evidence of trans people's danger +  * Uses inflammatory headlines and selective framing to suggest widespread patterns from isolated incidents 
- +  * Recruits contributors with "unique backgrounds" and "shared passion" for "facts" that consistently align anti-trans messaging
-- Uses inflammatory headlines and selective framing to suggest widespread patterns from isolated incidents +
- +
-- Recruits contributors with "unique backgrounds" and "shared passion" for "facts" that consistently align anti-trans messaging+
  
 ===== The Weapons Merchandise Scandal ===== ===== The Weapons Merchandise Scandal =====
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 Reduxx operates in the NM functional role by translating anti-trans pseudoscience into emotional narratives ("protecting women and children") that activate conservative and gender-critical audiences without requiring detailed engagement with actual evidence. For example, Reduxx frames discussion of gender identity in healthcare as: Reduxx operates in the NM functional role by translating anti-trans pseudoscience into emotional narratives ("protecting women and children") that activate conservative and gender-critical audiences without requiring detailed engagement with actual evidence. For example, Reduxx frames discussion of gender identity in healthcare as:
  
-- "Gender ideology" threatening women's spaces +  * "Gender ideology" threatening women's spaces 
- +  * "Biological integrity" being violated by medical transition 
-- "Biological integrity" being violated by medical transition +  * Trans people as inherent threats to children and women's safety
- +
-- Trans people as inherent threats to children and women's safety+
  
 These framings allow Reduxx to appeal to genuine feminist and child safety concerns while directing them toward anti-trans policy goals rather than evidence-based solutions. These framings allow Reduxx to appeal to genuine feminist and child safety concerns while directing them toward anti-trans policy goals rather than evidence-based solutions.
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 The SPLC's network analysis reveals that media outlets like **The City Journal, Quillette, UnHerd, and Reduxx** operate as a coordinated ecosystem: [(pb21)] The SPLC's network analysis reveals that media outlets like **The City Journal, Quillette, UnHerd, and Reduxx** operate as a coordinated ecosystem: [(pb21)]
  
-- 1. **Research & Practice groups** (SEGM, CAN-SG, ICGDR) produce pseudoscientific reports+1. **Research & Practice groups** (SEGM, CAN-SG, ICGDR) produce pseudoscientific reports
  
-- 2. **Think tanks** (Manhattan Institute, Heritage Foundation, AEI) provide institutional legitimacy+2. **Think tanks** (Manhattan Institute, Heritage Foundation, AEI) provide institutional legitimacy
  
-- 3. **Narrative Manipulation outlets** (The City Journal, Quillette, UnHerd, Reduxx) repackage claims for mass consumption+3. **Narrative Manipulation outlets** (The City Journal, Quillette, UnHerd, Reduxx) repackage claims for mass consumption
  
-- 4. **Legal Advocacy groups** (Alliance Defending Freedom, Heritage Foundation) translate narratives into litigation and legislation+4. **Legal Advocacy groups** (Alliance Defending Freedom, Heritage Foundation) translate narratives into litigation and legislation
  
 These outlets **do not operate independently**—they amplify each other's content, cross-promote speakers, and coordinate messaging timelines. A single claim originating in a SEGM white paper can appear across The City Journal, Quillette, UnHerd, and Reduxx within days, creating the false impression of widespread, independent concern rather than coordinated messaging. These outlets **do not operate independently**—they amplify each other's content, cross-promote speakers, and coordinate messaging timelines. A single claim originating in a SEGM white paper can appear across The City Journal, Quillette, UnHerd, and Reduxx within days, creating the false impression of widespread, independent concern rather than coordinated messaging.
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 However, the study's actual findings show: However, the study's actual findings show:
  
-- Transition improves mental health outcomes +  * Transition improves mental health outcomes 
- +  * The study did not measure the effects of transition itself 
-- The study did not measure the effects of transition itself +  * Crime rate comparisons were taken out of methodological context
- +
-- Crime rate comparisons were taken out of methodological context+
  
 This single misquoted paper spreads through the coordinated network (SEGM→The City Journal/Quillette→UnHerd/Reduxx→audience), appears in policy briefs, and becomes cited as "evidence." This single misquoted paper spreads through the coordinated network (SEGM→The City Journal/Quillette→UnHerd/Reduxx→audience), appears in policy briefs, and becomes cited as "evidence."

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