Christopher Rufo is an American professional anti-transgender activist. Attacking trans rights is part of Rufo’s conservative activism at the Manhattan Institute and elsewhere.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has described Rufo as a “far-right propagandist.”
Background
Christopher Ferguson “Chris” Rufo was born August 26, 1984 and grew up in Sacramento, California. Both parents are attorneys.
Rufo earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University in 2006 and a master’s degree from Harvard Extension School in 2022. Rufo has worked at The Heritage Foundation, Claremont Institute, and Discovery Institute.
Rufo has produced documentaries and has run for public office in Seattle.
Rufo is best known for conservative activism around critical race theory, intersectionality, diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and homelessness.
Rufo and spouse Suphatra “Kip” Paravichai live in Gig Harbor, Washington with their three children.
Intellectual dark web
Rufo was considered part of the intellectual dark web (IDW), a loose alliance described as a âgateway to the far right.â Many people involved are prominent opponents of transgender rights. IDW members typically get money and attention by claiming to be âcanceledâ or silenced by the minorities and progressive movements they criticize (called DARVO in general; see also the Dregerian Narrative in relation to trans issues, named after IDW inaugural member Alice Dreger).
The coalition did not hold together long, and Rufo chalked up the collapse to these events that splintered the IDW:
- The presidency of Donald Trump
- COVID and response to it
- The George Floyd protests
Rufo also correctly noted that the alliance collapsed because it was a reactionary movement with no political will. They stood against many things, but as a group, they did not stand for anything.
Most IDW members craved money and/or attention, and once that became more elusive, the alliance began to dissipate.
Anti-transgender activism
As part of a push to end public libraries and public education, Rufo has heavily promoted the idea that LGBTQ people are “groomers,” echoing similar efforts in the 1970s. As part of these “save the children” initiatives, Rufo seeks to stop schools from discussing LGBTQ people and their role in American history and culture (so-called “Don’t Say Gay” activism). Rufo is a major force behind threats and protests at Drag Queen Story Hour events.
In 2023, Florida’s anti-trans governor Ron DeSantis named Rufo to the board of trustees of New College of Florida, part of an attempt to turn the school conservative.
In May 2023, Rufo published an article about gender affirming care at Texas Childrenâs Hospital. In May 2024, surgeon Eithan Haim was charged with illegally obtaining the private medical records of pediatric patients receiving gender transition care at Texas Childrenâs Hospital and providing them to Rufo. In 2025, the Trump administration dropped the charges against Haim.
References
Dreher, Rod (October 25, 2022). Chris Rufo Vs Drag Queen Story Hour Groomers. The American Conservative https://www.theamericanconservative.com/chris-rufo-vs-drag-queen-story-hour-groomers/
Drennen, Ari (June 30, 2022). Outlets like The New Yorker keep giving Chris Rufo a platform to spread dangerous propaganda about LGBTQ people. Media Matters https://www.mediamatters.org/accuracy-media/outlets-new-yorker-keep-giving-chris-rufo-platform-spread-dangerous-propaganda-about
Kugle, Andrew (May 18, 2022 ) Chris Rufo uncovers jarring details of trans conference that Philadelphia teachers were encouraged to attend. Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/media/chris-rufo-trans-conference-philadelphia-teachers
Bond-Theriault, Candace (April 19, 2022). The Right Targets Queer Theory. The Nation https://www.thenation.com/article/society/christopher-rufo-queer-theory/
Wallace-Wells, Benjamin (June 18, 2021). How a conservative activist invented conflict over critical race theory. The New Yorker https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-inquiry/how-a-conservative-activist-invented-the-conflict-over-critical-race-theory
Selected anti-trans writing by Rufo
Rufo, Christopher F. (October 16, 2023). Inside the Transgender Empire. https://christopherrufo.com/p/inside-the-transgender-empire
Rufo, Christopher F. (May 16. 2023). Sex-Change Procedures at Texas Childrenâs Hospital. City Journal https://www.city-journal.org/article/sex-change-procedures-at-texas-childrens-hospital
Media
Hillsdale College (February 6, 2024). The Business of Transgenderism | Christopher F. Rufo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prSE_hiOADE
Christopher F. Rufo (July 11, 2023). How the Trans Movement Conquered American Life | The Transgender Empire. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwsekb5QReo
Christopher F. Rufo (March 16, 2023) âTrans Kidsâ Are the New Totem of the American Left. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39IiYHDp3KI
Christopher F. Rufo (March 6, 2023). Why the IDW Fell Apart. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCzxYjqVDvU
Christopher F. Rufo (February 7, 2023). New Hampshire Schools Push Biological Males in Girlsâ Locker Rooms. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHei5pLCWNY
Christopher F. Rufo (January 20, 2023). Church of England Announces First âNon-Binaryâ Priest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAGs-ayVUHo
Christopher F. Rufo (January 3, 2023). UConn Professor: âEveryone Is A Little Trans.â https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7B0moIpnaE
Christopher F. Rufo (December 5, 2022). Animated Film Teaches Kids that “Mama Has a Mustache.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5n1m2eXUDw
Resources
Substack (substack.com)
X/Twitter (x.com)
YouTube (youtube.com)
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Manhattan Institute (manhattan.institute)