Turning Point USA vs. transgender people

by Andrea James Reviewed September 14, 2026 3 min read

Turning Point USA is an American conservative nonprofit that has taken consistently anti-transgender positions.

In 2023, co-founder Charlie Kirk stated that “the transgender thing happening in America right now” is “a throbbing middle finger to God.”

Background

Turning Point USA (TPUSA) was founded in June 2012 by Charlie Kirk (1993–2025), who was 18 at the time, and Tea Party activist Bill Montgomery (1940–2020).

In August 2012, Kirk met Republican donor Foster Friess at the Republican National Convention. Friess subsequently provided an important early financial contribution. TPUSA initially concentrated on recruiting and organizing conservative college students and establishing campus chapters. By 2016, the organization had expanded substantially; it raised more than $8.2 million between July 2016 and June 2017.

In November 2016, TPUSA launched Professor Watchlist, a website identifying professors it accused of advancing left-wing or anti-American ideas.

The election of Donald Trump in November 2016 accelerated TPUSA’s growth and helped move the organization from a primarily libertarian-oriented campus group toward a more explicitly populist and Trump-aligned conservative movement. TPUSA increasingly focused on campus activism, voter mobilization, social media, and national political events.

In 2020, Kirk chaired Students for Trump, which TPUSA said operated more than 350 chapters and mobilized hundreds of thousands of young voters.

In December 2021, TPUSA launched the AmericaFest conference.

On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University in Utah. Kirk’s spouse Erika Kirk assumed the organization’s chief executive role, while TPUSA continued expanding its campus and high-school operations.

By September 2026, the organization reported more than 3,500 high-school and 1,500 college chapters.

Anti-trans activism

Contributors of anti-trans content to their site include:

Graham Allen
Alex Clark
Stephen Davis
Erin Elmore
Kendall Jones
Jordan Rachel
Rob Smith
Morgan Zegers

Speakers bureau

Turning Point USA lists a number of speakers, including:

Charlie Kirk
Benny Johnson
Alex Clark
Kendall Jones
Isabel Brown
Morgan Zegers
Stephen Davis
Erin Elmore
Paige Roux
Jack Posobiec
Jobob
Graham Allen
Anthony Watson
Lauren Chen
Morgonn McMichael
Savanah Hernandez
Yenomi Park

Ambassadors

Kellyanna Brooking, Ellie Byrd, Megan Clark, Savannah Craven, Chandler Crump, Mikel Crump, Isabella Deluca, Ariana Dewing, DC Draino, Noelle Fitchett, Austen Fletcher, Alison Furno, Erin Godwin, Sara Gonzales, Seth Gruber, Crissy Henderson, Leyla Hughes, Amber Hulse, Monique Evans Isringhausen, Liz Jones, K-Von, Lily Kate, Evan Kilgore, James Klug, Justice Kuehl, Gina Loudon, Grant May, Liv McDaniel, Dianna Miller, Jocelyn Moon, Stephanie Nash, Luke Negron, Aria Adare Parker, The Patriot Sisters (Isabella & Christina), Joshua Platillero, Amy Robbins, Grace Saldana, Bobby Sausalito, Debra Schwartzben, Laura Lee Spears, Emily Valentine, Pierre Wilson, Christine Yeargin

References

Pisoni, Hope; Donndelinger, Sam; DiAlesandro, Nico (October 8, 2025,). Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA’s complete track record on LGBTQ+ issues. Uncloseted Media https://www.unclosetedmedia.com/p/charlie-kirk-and-turning-point-usas

Fugardi, Rachel (May 22, 2025). Turning Point USA: A case study of the hard right in 2024. Southern Poverty Law Center https://www.splcenter.org/resources/reports/turning-point-usa-case-study-hard-right-2024/

Westbrook, Anna; Klepeis, Joseph (April 15, 2025). Turning Point USA hosts controversial critic of trans women in sports. The Allegheny Campus https://alleghenycampus.com/25496/news/turning-point-usa-brings-controversial-speaker-to-campus/

Shaffer, Keaton (April 2, 2025 ). Conservative activist Riley Gaines speaks on transgender issues; protesters gather outside Dale Hall. OU Daily https://www.oudaily.com/news/ou-turning-point-usa-riley-gaines-transgender-issues-sports-protests-poster-vandalism-debate-qa/article_6a5291a8-a02a-4762-9132-994b02a0e87f.html

Bossert, Chelsea (March 26, 2025). Detransitioner Chloe Cole addresses student concerns at Turning Point USA event. Oakland Post https://oaklandpostonline.com/53616/campus/detransitioner-chloe-cole-addresses-student-concerns-at-turning-point-usa-event/

Woodyard, Chris (March 4, 2025). Transgender ‘truth’ event at University of the Pacific roils LGBTQ+ community. Stocktonia https://stocktonia.org/news/community/2025/03/04/transgender-truth-event-at-university-of-the-pacific-roils-lgbtq-community/

Right Wing Watch (September 11, 2023). post on X: Charlie Kirk declares that “the transgender thing happening in America” is “a throbbing middle finger to God” and then proceeds to deadname Lia Thomas and tell her “you’re an abomination to God” while the congregation applauds. https://twitter.com/RightWingWatch/status/1701259614077989121

Resources

Anti-Defamation League (adl.org)

Turning Point USA
adl.org/resources/backgrounder/turning-point-usa

People for the American Way (peoplefor.org)

Right Wing Watch: Charlie Kirk
peoplefor.org/rightwingwatch/people/charlie-kirk

American Association of University Professors (aaup.org)

What is Turning Point USA?
aaup.org/issues-higher-education/political-attacks-higher-ed/targeted-harassment-faculty/what-turning-point
Targeted Harassment of Faculty
aaup.org/issues-higher-education/political-attacks-higher-ed/targeted-harassment-faculty

Turning Points (matthewboedy.substack.com)