The Witherspoon Institute is an American conservative think tank with a significant involvement in anti-trans activism. The oppose marriage equality, reproductive rights, and LGBT rights.
Background
The Witherspoon Institute was founded in 2003 by academics affiliated with Princeton University’s James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions, including Founder Robert P. George and President Luis E. Tellez.
It is based in Princeton, New Jersey but it not affiliated with Princeton University.
In 2012, Witherspoon released the “New Family Structures Study” authored by Mark Regnerus. Regnerus claimed that parents who had been in a same-gender relationship had children who were more likely to have challenges, including “being on public assistance, being unemployed, and having poorer educational attainment.” The study was widely promoted by anti-LGBT activists, including Benedict Carey, J. Michael Bailey, Paul Vasey, Lisa Diamond, Marc Breedlove, Eric Vilain, and Marc Epprecht.
Public Discourse
Witherspoon Institute publishes a group blog called Public Discourse. It was founded in 2008 by anti-trans extremist Ryan T. Anderson. The blog has featured dozens of anti-trans articles, including some from key figures in the anti-trans and ex-trans movements, including Miriam Grossman, Walt Heyer, Michael K. Laidlaw, Paul McHugh, Andre Van Mol, and Julian Vigo.
Resources
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Witherspoon Institute (winst.org)
Facebook (facebook.com)
X/Twitter (x.com/