MassResistance is an American conservative advocacy organization known for its opposition to LGBTQ rights and related public policies. The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated MassResistance as an anti-LGBTQ hate group, which MassResistance disputes.
Background
MassResistance was founded in 1995 in Massachusetts by Brian Camenker, a former engineer and conservative activist. It initially emerged in response to local school curriculum disputes and expanded its focus to national and international issues involving sexuality, gender identity, and family policy.
MassResistance campaigns against same-sex marriage, anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people, and the inclusion of LGBTQ topics in public education. The organization supports legislation and ballot initiatives that restrict recognition of same-sex relationships and limit transgender rights, particularly in areas such as school policies, healthcare, and athletics.
The group operates through publications, conferences, public testimony, and coordination with like-minded organizations and legislators. While based in the United States, MassResistance has also engaged in international advocacy, including involvement in policy debates in Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean.
Anti-trans activism
In 2005, MassResistance started a blog at massresistance.net. MassResistance opposes what it describes as “gender ideology.”
References
Staff report (August 15, 2025). MassResistance traffics pseudoscience to spread anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. Southern Poverty Law Center https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/massresistance-pseudoscience-anti-lgbtq-rhetoric/
Montlake, Simon (June 26, 2025). 10 years after same-sex marriage ruling, these conservatives aim to roll it back. Christian Science Monitor https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2025/0626/same-sex-marriage-obergefell-massresistance
Ring, Trudy (March 13, 2025). Who is MassResistance, the far-right group behind anti-marriage equality resolutions? The Advocate https://www.advocate.com/news/who-is-massresistance-anti-lgbtq
Taheri, Mandy (March 6, 2025). Conservative Group Pushing to End Same-Sex Marriage—What We Know. Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/conservative-group-pushing-end-same-sex-marriagewhat-know-2040786
Kaur, Anumita (March 6, 2025). A far-right campaign seeks statehouse support to overturn gay marriage. Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/03/06/massresistance-gay-marriage-overturn/
Leach, Ryan M. (September 1, 2023). Anti-LGBTQ+ Hall of Shame: A cause for concern, a call to action. Boston Spirit https://bostonspiritmagazine.com/2023/09/anti-lgbtq-hall-of-shame-a-cause-for-concern-a-call-to-action/
Hughto, J. M. W., Pletta, D., Gordon, L., Cahill, S., Mimiaga, M. J., & Reisner, S. L. (2021). Negative Transgender-Related Media Messages Are Associated with Adverse Mental Health Outcomes in a Multistate Study of Transgender Adults. LGBT Health, 8(1), 32–41. https://doi.org/10.1089/lgbt.2020.0279
Ring, Trudy (November 21, 2017). Anti-LGBT Group Opens Conference With Rainbow Flag Dance. The Advocate https://www.advocate.com/politics/2017/11/21/anti-lgbt-group-opens-conference-rainbow-flag-dance
Resources
Trans Data Library (transdatalibrary.org)
- MassResistance
- transdatalibrary.org/organization/massresistance
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Southern Poverty Law Center (splcenter.org)
- MassResistance
- https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/massresistance/
GLAAD Accountability Project (glaad.org/gap)
- MassResistance
- glaad.org/gap/massresistance
MassResistance (massresistance.org)
MassResistance (massresistance.net)