The Ruth Institute vs. transgender people

The Ruth Institute is a conservative American nonprofit that “upholds the ancient Christian teachings about marriage, family, and human sexuality.” The Ruth Institute is listed as an anti-trans hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Media Bias/Fact Check assesses Ruth Institute as “extreme right” and “low credibility.”

Background

In 2008, conservative Catholic activist Jennifer Roback Morse developed The Ruth Institute as a branch of Morse’s work with the National Organization for Marriage. In 2013, Ruth Institute became a separate organization. That year, they announced an anti-gay “circle of experts” featuring Douglas Allen, Stephen Baskerville, Jenet Erickson, Anthony Esolen, Pat Fagan, Robert Gagnon, Todd Hartch, Lynn Wardle, and Donald Welch.

Anti-trans activism

Two of The Ruth Institute’s key messages are that “no one is born gay” and “no one is born in the wrong body.”

In 2021, The Ruth Institute and the anti-trans American College of Pediatricians founded the website TransRegret as a “support” site for questioning and people with transition regret, similar to anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy” projects that target pregnant people weighing their options. It claims “puberty blockers & crosssex hormones may actually make you feel worse! These drugs are not proven safe to use for gender identity distress. Puberty blockers & cross-sex hormones have potentially permanent side-effects and increase serious health risks.” They quote Swedish psychiatrist Christopher Gillberg, who claims trans healthcare for minors is “possibly the biggest scandal in medical history.”

Summit for Survivors

Starting in 2018, The Ruth Institute held an annual awards dinner, renamed the Summit for Survivors of the Sexual Revolution in 2019. The events continued through 2022.

Speakers, panelists, and honorees included Jackie Aguilar, Caryl Ayala, Stephen Baskerville, Shenan Boquet, Erin Brewer, Susan Constantine, Charlene Cothran, Arnold Culbreath, Paul Darrow, Katy Faust, Don Feder, Jim Garlow, Donna Harrison, Jim Havens, Kristan Hawkins, Laura Haynes, Walt Heyer, Lori Hoye, Walter B. Hoye II, Maria Keffler, Daniel Mattson, Mary E. McAlister, Bethany Meola, Daniel Meola, Jennifer Roback Morse, Michael S. Parker, Mark Regnerus, Jane Robbins, Eric Scheidler, Denise Schick, Sharon Slater, Paul Sullins, Quentin Van Meter, Sebastian Walshe, Scott Yenor, and Katrina Zeno.

References

Milton, Josh (December 21, 2020). Founder of anti-LGBT+ hate group outraged that people are describing it as an anti-LGBT+ hate group. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2020/12/21/anti-lgbt-hate-group-jennifer-roback-morse-ruth-institute-nbc-hate-group/

Staff report (December 4, 2013). The Ruth Institute’s ‘Circle of Experts’ on Homosexuality. Southern Poverty Law Center https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/ruth-institutes-circle-experts-homosexuality/

Staff report (October 14, 2010). Human Rights Campaign, Courage Campaign Call on IRS to Investigate National Organization for Marriage. HRC https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/human-rights-campaign-courage-campaign-call-on-irs-to-investigate-national

PDF of complaint http://nomexposed.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Complaint-Against-Ruth-Institute-10-14-10.pdf

Anti-trans coverage

Graves, Jim (June 9, 2022). Ruth Institute’s 5th Annual Summit will address effects of the Sexual Revolution. Catholic World Report https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2022/06/09/ruth-institutes-5th-annual-summit-will-address-effects-of-the-sexual-revolution/

Schiffer, Kathy (July 15, 2021). Ruth Institute’s ‘Survivor’s Summit’ to Explore Rotten Fruit of Sexual Revolution. National Catholic Register https://www.ncregister.com/blog/ruth-institute-survivors-summit

Graves, Jim (September 10, 2017). Online Processor Drops Pro-Family Ruth Institute for Promoting ‘Hate.’ National Catholic Register https://www.ncregister.com/blog/online-processor-drops-pro-family-ruth-institute-for-promoting-hate

Selected publicatons by Ruth Institute

Ruth Institute and American College of Pediatricians (February 2021). How to find real help. https://transregret.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Transgender-pamphlet.pdf