THE ANTI-TRANS HATE MACHINE: A PLOT AGAINST EQUALITY

The Anti-Trans Hate Machine topic hub is for those who want to dig deeper into every season of this podcast series. Episodes, transcripts, infographics, press resources, and more are available here for reporters, researchers, students, activists, and the general public.

ABOUT ‘THE ANTI-TRANS HATE MACHINE: A PLOT AGAINST EQUALITY’

Amid a record-setting year of anti-transgender legislation, TransLash Media released Season 1 of The Anti-Trans Hate Machine: A Plot Against Equality in 2021. This award-winning multi-part program takes us behind the curtain of the dark money, right wing organizations, radical figures and extreme ideology driving the anti-trans backlash across the country. We expose a highly-organized political apparatus, which makes the future potentially darker for everyone.

Season 2 focuses on the disinformation ecosystem constructed by the Christian Nationalist movement, anti-trans lies are laundered through some of the biggest and most respected news rooms in the country, and how this effort creates a  world where the existence of trans people is questioned. On this journey we center the voices of trans people, as well as their families, who are victimized by this hostile movement with our award-winning journalist Imara Jones guiding us along the way.

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LATEST EPISODE

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SEASON 2

Episode 1: Conversion Therapy: The Disinformation Blueprint

Every day, attacks on trans kids grow louder, and more anti-trans bills keep moving through state legislatures. How did this happen? In this episode we tell you how lessons learned by Christian Nationalists twenty years ago, in the fight to undermine gay rights by preserving conversion therapy, set the stage for today. Join us as we show how the ability to manufacture pseudoscientific theories and push them out in the mainstream across three decades led to today’s crisis.

Episode 2: Detransition Pseudo-Science and Misleading Examples

Disinformation campaigns need archetypes to advance their propaganda. In this episode we see how Christian Nationalists have teamed up with TERFs, and even Dianic Witches, to find people who are “ex-trans” in a hopeless attempt to show that transgender people aren’t real. Join us as we follow Ky Schevers and her journey into the depths of the detransition movement. We will learn how her story was seized upon by pseudo-scientific groups and the harm it caused both to Ky and the community she loves.

Episode 3: Seduction of Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria

Disinformation must spread in ways that are imperceptible and seemingly organic. Join us for a deep dive into the massive influence of the fringe blog 4th Wave Now, where parents who are hostile to their trans kids gather to spread conspiracy theories about the origins of gender identity. It’s influenced liberal parents like Jeanne Ogden, who used ideas in the blog to help justify blocking her daughter Cam from receiving the care she needs. Learn how Jeanne and Cam are working to pick up the pieces, after being manipulated by this disinformation. And how, despite the harm, journalists like Jesse Singal grabbed the idea of trans social contagion and ran with it.

Episode 4: A Voice for Anti-Trans, Mass Media

Various parts of the right wing disinformation machine effectively work in tandem to elevate junk science and platform people spreading anti-trans hate. In this episode, Imara takes a deep dive into the inner workings of this world by following the rise of Abigail Shrier, a woman who rose quickly from obscurity to become a so-called expert spreading the myth of social contagion. We’ll explore how she packaged these concepts in ways that was ready made for Christian Nationalist media, especially Fox News. And how they were accompanied by a mainstream appeal that’s had a devastating impact on parents and kids.

Episode 5: Capturing The New York Times

Disinformers ultimately want their narratives to filter into trusted sources where they can almost imperceptibly begin to shift public opinion. In this episode, Imara dives into how Christian Nationalists have successfully made The New York Times—arguably the world’s most powerful news organization—into an agent of their views. The fact that they have done so is a degree of success beyond what they could have hoped. And the way that anti-trans ideas have embedded themselves at the paper has wide ranging impacts on trans people as well American democracy overall. Join us as we learned how this happened through the voices and stories of former and current New York Times staff.

SEASON 1

Episode 1: It's Not Really About Sports

In the opening episode for TransLash Media’s riveting new mini-series, award-winning journalist Imara Jones introduces us to a key component of the anti-trans hate machine through a historic case: Hecox v. Little. She walks us through the introduction to HB 500, the law that made Idaho the first state to ban transgender athletes participating in sports, and the investigation that quickly followed suit. We hear from aspiring college athlete Lindsay Hecox, as well as Ritchie Eppink, the Legal Director of the ACLU of Idaho, and Chase Strangio, Deputy Director for Transgender Justice, who aided her through her case. And Imara receives an unexpected surprise when Idaho Representative Barbara Ehardt, the sponsor of the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act (HB 500), takes her call. In the end we learn about the organization behind these bills, a far-right group called Alliance Defending Freedom.

Episode 2: A Coordinated Attack on Trans Youth

In episode 2 of 4 of The Anti-Trans Hate Machine mini-series, we investigate and uncover the forces and organizations, including the Family Research Council and Promise to America’s Children,  responsible for the reinforcement of bills meant to ban trans youth from access to life-saving and equal healthcare – starting specifically with Alabama’s SB 219 (2020) – Prohibits Gender Affirming Care Bill. We hear from some of the youth and parents affected by these bills, and learn about their choices to fight back, despite the hardships it brings to do so.

Episode 3: Transphobia In A Suit

In the third episode of the TransLash Media’s mini-series The Anti-Trans Hate Machine, Imara investigates the influence the Heritage Foundation had in infusing anti-trans ideology into the government during Trump’s presidency—a legacy the Biden administration is still trying to unravel. Through that investigation, Imara shares what she’s learned about one man who orchestrated many of those attacks on trans rights. Plus, we hear the stories of two brave women fighting against one of the most vicious attacks and suing the government to make sure trans people have equal access to healthcare.

Episode 4: Money, Power and A Radical Vision

Over the past three episodes of our first ever mini-series, Imara has detailed the institutions that are the major components of the anti-trans hate machine. But in this episode we dive into the people funding this machine and why. We enter into the shadows of the anti-trans movement and unpack how their hate intersects with a larger, even darker agenda. Household names like Betsy Devos take centerstage as does those less well known such as the The Council for National Policy, the National Christian Foundation, the New Apostolic Reformation, and Dominionists. 

Testimonials

Explore a selection of listener testimonials from Season 1. We will add more of your reviews after we launch Season 2! Bookmark this page.

“Hey everyone, don’t miss this new podcast series on the rise of transphobia in the US by Black trans woman journalist @imara_jones_ of @translashmedia

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ALOK

poet. comedian. speaker. author.

“To call journalist @imarajones a multi-hyphenate would be an understatement - throughout her career, she's founded @translashmedia, served in policy positions, chaired meetings at the United Nations and more!”

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NLGJA

The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists

“The NYT’s transphobia and lack of accountability is atrocious, but remember this is all part of a broader campaign by religious extremists to impose their version of christianity on everyone. The Anti-Trans Hate Machine is a good way to catch up on context.”

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Riley Black

Award-winning author

TransLash Media produces a number of projects, including The Anti-Trans Hate Machine podcast and a short film series and an online interactive zine.”

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GLSEN

CREDITS: The Anti-Trans Hate Machine: A Plot Against Equality is hosted and executive produced by Imara Jones. Oliver Ash Kleine is our senior producer and Nicole Kelly is our editor. Our producers include Josephine Jaye McAuliffe, Ann Marie Awad, and Mara Lazer. Our associate producers are Vera B., Wren Farrell, R. Robinson, Nicole Richards, and Tiler Wilson. Fact-checking for this season comes from Steven Crighton. This series is sound designed by Xander Adams. Zak Lanius helped with audio production. Our social media team includes Daniela “Dani” Capistrano, head of Digital Strategy, as well as Brennen Beckwith, our social media producer. 

Infographics

SEASON 2 INFOGRAPHICS

SEASON 1 INFOGRAPHICS

Transcripts

SEASON 2 TRANSCRIPTS

Coming soon!

SEASON 1 TRANSCRIPTS

Social Media Toolkits

SEASON 2 SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKITS

SEASON 1 SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKITS

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TransLash tells trans stories to save trans lives. As a trusted source for journalists, thought-leaders, movement activists, researchers, and those wanting to know about trans people, we produce narratives about and for the trans community—accurately and reliably. At a time when disinformation about trans people is being used to undermine democracy and human rights, TransLash Media serves as a beacon of hope through the voices that we share with the world.

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TransLash tells trans stories to save trans lives. As a trusted source for journalists, thought-leaders, movement activists, researchers, and those wanting to know about trans people, we produce narratives about and for the trans community—accurately and reliably. At a time when disinformation about trans people is being used to undermine democracy and human rights, TransLash Media serves as a beacon of hope through the voices that we share with the world.

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