Google Bans Anti-Trans Hate Group Gays Against Groomers
Technology companies have been under pressure for months to stop enabling the spread of anti-transgender hate and targeting LGBTQ+ people by online trolls. As a result of terms of service violations, a popular anti-trans hate group was banned from a major internet service for the second time this week.
Gays Against Groomers, founded by Florida political operative Jaimee Michell who identifies as gay, was banned from using Google's subscriber services late Tuesday evening, the group said on social media.
Shortly after Michell appeared on Tucker Carlson's Fox News program to complain to the far-right pundit about the news that Venmo and PayPal had banned the group, Gays Against Groomers took to Twitter. Although Michell and Carlson discussed being banned from utilizing the platform to collect funds for use in its hate campaigns, Gays Against Groomers tweeted about now being banned from Google as well.
"BREAKING: After being banned by @PayPal and @Venmo less than 24 hours ago, We have JUST been banned by @Google! Big tech is coordinating a massive attack on our organization for trying to protect children. THIS IS INSANE."
The account has been tweeting nearly nonstop for the past day, calling for its followers to boycott the companies that are holding the group accountable for the vitriol it has generated toward LGBTQ+ communities, educators, and doctors who support transgender kids.
Gays Against Groomers continues to maintain a Donorbox account. Donorbox is a fundraising platform popular with nonprofit organizations. The company boasts clients like Code For America, Habitat for Humanity, and Make A Wish. The Advocate's inquiry with Donorbox on the status of Gays Against Groomers as a platform client went unanswered.
The Advocate also reached out to Google for comment on banning the group but did not hear back.
A spokesperson for Habitat for Humanity provided The Advocate with a statement that reads in part, "I can confirm that Donorbox is neither a vendor for or corporate partner of Habitat for Humanity International," and then links to the organization's statement on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Note: This story was updated to reflect comments from a spokesperson for Habitat for Humanity.
