Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This segment discusses the moral panic surrounding the term "grooming," particularly in relation to LGBTQ+ people, and how it is being weaponized by right-wing politicians, particularly in Florida under Ron DeSantis. Historically, moral panics have been used to demonize specific groups—examples include the witch hunts and the Nazis' rise to power. The latest iteration of this tactic is the banning of books and restricting discussions around LGBTQ+ topics in schools under the pretense of "protecting children."
The panel critiques the effectiveness of this fear-based messaging, pointing out that invoking child safety is an emotional trigger that stirs public outrage, even when there's no factual basis. The term "grooming" is being misused to conflate LGBTQ+ identities with pedophilia, despite no evidence supporting such a connection. Instead of addressing actual risk factors for child abuse—such as poverty, lack of education, and inadequate mental health services—conservatives are using the "grooming" narrative as a political weapon.
They also highlight the hypocrisy of these fearmongers, who ignore well-documented abuses within religious institutions like the Catholic Church. The discussion expands to how right-wing leaders, including DeSantis, use these tactics to rally their base by creating an "us vs. them" mentality, turning marginalized communities into scapegoats. The panel draws parallels to past laws in the UK, like Section 28, which banned "promoting" homosexuality, a vague and harmful policy that took over a decade to repeal.
Ultimately, the panel argues that real child protection efforts should focus on economic stability, education, and community support rather than scapegoating LGBTQ+ people or banning books. The fear-mongering around grooming isn't about protecting kids—it’s about controlling the narrative and demonizing marginalized communities for political gain.
📚 Banned Books and Bigotry
🔥 Moral Panic Strikes Again
🎭 Drag Shows: The New Witch Hunts?
🚸 Weaponizing Child Safety
📖 Books Don’t Groom, People Do
🏳️🌈 LGBTQ+ ≠ Danger to Kids
🗳️ DeSantis’ Pandering Playbook
⚖️ Scapegoating: A Time-Tested Tactic
⛪ Ignoring the Real Abusers
🔍 Fear-Mongering 101: A Political Guide
The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.10.1 featuring Jason Sherwood, Aaron Jensen, Richard Firth-Godbehere and Scott Dickie.
Why the moral panic over "grooming" is so effective at manipulating the right-wing mind, Salon, Matthew Rosza, January 30, 2023
bit.ly/3xcJxyH
Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: tiny.cc/patreonnp
We welcome your comments on the thread for this show.
► tiny.cc/fbnp
► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
-------
WHAT IS THE NON-PROPHETS?
The Non-Prophets is a internet show airing at 06:00pm Central time Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday each week. Where we navigate through current events, providing a secular viewpoint that adds depth to the unfolding narrative.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin)
► atheist-experience.com (The Atheist Experience TV Show)
NOTES
TheNonProphets is the official channel of The Non Prophets. "The Non Prophets" is a trademark of the ACA.
Copyright © 2024 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
This segment discusses the moral panic surrounding the term "grooming," particularly in relation to LGBTQ+ people, and how it is being weaponized by right-wing politicians, particularly in Florida under Ron DeSantis. Historically, moral panics have been used to demonize specific groups—examples include the witch hunts and the Nazis' rise to power. The latest iteration of this tactic is the banning of books and restricting discussions around LGBTQ+ topics in schools under the pretense of "protecting children."
The panel critiques the effectiveness of this fear-based messaging, pointing out that invoking child safety is an emotional trigger that stirs public outrage, even when there's no factual basis. The term "grooming" is being misused to conflate LGBTQ+ identities with pedophilia, despite no evidence supporting such a connection. Instead of addressing actual risk factors for child abuse—such as poverty, lack of education, and inadequate mental health services—conservatives are using the "grooming" narrative as a political weapon.
They also highlight the hypocrisy of these fearmongers, who ignore well-documented abuses within religious institutions like the Catholic Church. The discussion expands to how right-wing leaders, including DeSantis, use these tactics to rally their base by creating an "us vs. them" mentality, turning marginalized communities into scapegoats. The panel draws parallels to past laws in the UK, like Section 28, which banned "promoting" homosexuality, a vague and harmful policy that took over a decade to repeal.
Ultimately, the panel argues that real child protection efforts should focus on economic stability, education, and community support rather than scapegoating LGBTQ+ people or banning books. The fear-mongering around grooming isn't about protecting kids—it’s about controlling the narrative and demonizing marginalized communities for political gain.
📚 Banned Books and Bigotry
🔥 Moral Panic Strikes Again
🎭 Drag Shows: The New Witch Hunts?
🚸 Weaponizing Child Safety
📖 Books Don’t Groom, People Do
🏳️🌈 LGBTQ+ ≠ Danger to Kids
🗳️ DeSantis’ Pandering Playbook
⚖️ Scapegoating: A Time-Tested Tactic
⛪ Ignoring the Real Abusers
🔍 Fear-Mongering 101: A Political Guide
The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.10.1 featuring Jason Sherwood, Aaron Jensen, Richard Firth-Godbehere and Scott Dickie.
Why the moral panic over "grooming" is so effective at manipulating the right-wing mind, Salon, Matthew Rosza, January 30, 2023
bit.ly/3xcJxyH
Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes: tiny.cc/patreonnp
We welcome your comments on the thread for this show.
► tiny.cc/fbnp
► Contact us with questions or news stories at: nonprophets@atheist-community.org
-------
WHAT IS THE NON-PROPHETS?
The Non-Prophets is a internet show airing at 06:00pm Central time Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday each week. Where we navigate through current events, providing a secular viewpoint that adds depth to the unfolding narrative.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
► atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin)
► atheist-experience.com (The Atheist Experience TV Show)
NOTES
TheNonProphets is the official channel of The Non Prophets. "The Non Prophets" is a trademark of the ACA.
Copyright © 2024 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.
