Now, thanks to social media networks that didn’t exist 20 years ago, it has returned to the center of the right-wing worldview with astonishing speed, encouraging civilians to harass queer parents and advocate for the banning of books that depict queer lives. Rooted in anti-gay propaganda from generations past, the “groomer” smear had disappeared from everyday political discourse for the better part of a decade, while LGBTQ people gained cultural representation and made major strides toward equal protection under the law. The idea that gays and gender-nonconforming people are out to recruit and abuse children is something of a throwback. But it also appeals to white nationalist extremists, who see queer and trans people as a threat to the patriarchal, fascist state they seek to establish, and are willing to embrace violence against them. Conservatives have used that narrative to validate regular old homophobia and transphobia, giving cover to Republicans who wish to turn voters against LGBTQ rights or simply drum up votes from their base by tapping into a moral panic.