A data leak has exposed the American College of Pediatricians’ (ACPeds) efforts to distribute anti-trans misinformation in schools. According to a report by Wired, the right-wing and anti-LGBTQ+ group, classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), stored more than 10,000 sensitive documents on an unsecured Google Drive. These documents included financial information, member details, and the organization’s most radical views.
Anti-Trans Literature Targeting Schools
The leaked files contained literature designed to be sent to schools, asserting that trans youth have a “pathological disorder” and could influence others. The baseless claims relied solely on a research paper by Brown University’s Lisa Littman that promotes the debunked concept of “rapid onset gender dysphoria.” Experts in Australia discredited this notion in 2019, clarifying that it has never been a diagnosis or health condition.
Controversial Views on Same-Sex Marriage and Parenting
Other leaked documents described same-sex marriage as “aberrant and immoral behavior” and provided physicians with a guide on encouraging patients to buy “Christian-based parenting guides” promoting “sexual purity.” ACPeds has a history of disputing LGBTQ+ rights, including trans healthcare, same-sex marriage, and adoption.
Lawsuit against FDA and Abortion Pill Access
ACPeds joined entities such as Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) in filing a federal lawsuit against the US Food and Drug Administration over the abortion drug mifepristone. The ongoing case may be decided by the Supreme Court, with judges in various states issuing competing rulings.
Endorsement of Conversion Therapy
The Southern Poverty Law Center describes ACPeds as an “anti-LGBTQ hate group” that uses junk science to push its agenda. Despite having only around 700 members, the organization positions itself as a premier association of pediatricians. The American Academy of Pediatrics, in contrast, boasts an estimated 67,000 members.
ACPeds’ Twitter account showcases its radical anti-trans views, including false claims about medical facilities facilitating gender transition for young children and the alleged ineffectiveness of medical intervention in reducing suicide rates among trans individuals.
