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Steven Hotze vs. transgender people

Steven Hotze is an American right-wing extremist and megadonor, talk show host, conspiracist, and physician. Hotze’s virulently anti-trans views have resulted in being kicked out of a Texas State Senate hearing.

Background

Steven Forrest Hotze was born on July 5, 1950 in Houston, Texas and grew up in the Houston area. Hotze earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Texas at Austin in 1972 and a medical degree from University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 1976, then did postgraduate training.

Hotze went into private practice and in 1989 founded Hotze Health & Wellness Center. In 2000, Hotze was charged with driving while intoxicated. The case was dropped in 2001. Hotze founded Braidwood Management in 2005 and launched the podcast Dr. Hotze’s Wellness Revolution in 2017.

Hotze emerged as a prominent figure in the conspiracies that COVID was a creation of the “deep state” and that Donald Trump actually won the 2020 presidential election. In 2021, Hotze founded the Liberty Center for God and Country. In 2022, Hotze was arrested and charged with unlawful restraint and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection to hiring Mark Anthony Aguirre in 2020 to investigate private citizens reportedly engaging in election fraud. Aguirre followed an air conditioner service technician for days before reportedly running the technician off the road and brandishing a gun. Hotze’s case was dismissed in 2025.

Hotze and spouse Janie Smith Hotze (1949–2025) married in 1967 and had eight children.

Anti-trans activism

In 1996, Hotze launched a conservative radio program in Houston, which later became known as The Dr. Hotze Report. Hotze became know for expressing stridently anti-LGBTQ opinions.

Hotze has made many inflammatory comments about transgender people, including:

  • 2023: “By definition, sir, they are pedophiles.” [led to being kicked out of a Texas State Senate hearing]
  • 2017: “Men who claim to be women… are participating in disgraceful, shameful conduct. […] They need to be told, ‘Stop it!’”
  • 2015: “Some strange men… perverted in their thinking who think they’re women. […] You can think you’re a frog… cockroach… cow… but… you’re a male. […] “You can be… dress up like a woman… That’s the most asinine thing I’ve ever seen.” […] “This idea that we’re going to give special rights… is just absolute nonsense.”
  • 2015: “It’s delusion. It’s deception and delusion. […] I think the whole thing is a Satanic movement… promoting evil.”

In 2019, Hotze was a central figure in attempts to ban Drag Queen Story Hour events in Texas, working closely with Tracy Shannon of MassResistance.

References

Levin, Sam (May 23, 2025). This doctor calls LGBTQ+ rights ‘satanic’. He could now undo healthcare for millions. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/23/supreme-court-case-steven-hotze-hiv-prep

Diaz, Mario (May 20, 2025). Harris County DA dismisses charges against prominent republican donor Dr. Steven Hotze previously charged by Kim Ogg. KPRC https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/05/20/harris-county-da-dismisses-charges-against-prominent-republican-donor-dr-steven-hotze/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Melhado, William; Nguyen, Alex (March 24, 2023). Transgender Texans and doctors say Republican lawmakers misconstrue what science says about puberty blockers and hormone therapy. The Texas Tribune https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/24/texas-legislature-transgender-health-care/

McGaugghy, Lauren (March 23, 2023). Texans testify 5-1 against drag ban bills in first Senate committee debate. Dallas Morning News https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/03/23/texans-testify-5-1-against-drag-ban-bills-in-first-senate-committee-debate/

Griswold, Niki (March 25, 2023). Texas Senate bills seek to restrict drag shows. Here’s what’s being proposed. Austin American-Statesman https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/03/25/texas-legislature-restrict-drag-queen-story-hour-sb-12/70041813007/

Jarvis, Joe (March 18, 2023). Anti-LGBTQ Extremist Ejected From Texas Hearing After Repeatedly Declaring Trans People To Be “Pedophiles.” Joe. My. God https://www.joemygod.com/2023/03/anti-lgbtq-extremist-ejected-from-texas-hearing-after-repeatedly-declaring-trans-people-to-be-pedophiles/

Woodward, Alex (March 18, 2023). Texas doctor and GOP activist kicked out of state Senate after smearing trans people as paedophiles. The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/steven-hotze-transgender-texas-kicked-out-b2303590.html

Howkinson, Katie (March 17, 2023). Texas Doctor Booted From State Senate Session After Calling Trans People ‘Pedophiles.’ Daily Beast https://www.thedailybeast.com/texas-doctor-steven-hotze-booted-from-state-senate-session-after-calling-trans-people-pedophiles/

Despart, Zach (April 20, 2022). GOP megadonor Steven Hotze charged after a bogus election fraud scheme led a former cop to threaten a repairman. The Texas Tribune https://www.texastribune.org/2022/04/20/steve-hotze-houston-indicted-voter-fraud/

Ring, Trudy (November 3, 2021). Texas Judge Says Religion Justifies Anti-LGBTQ+ Job Discrimination. The Advocate https://www.advocate.com/religion/2021/11/03/texas-judge-says-religion-justifies-anti-lgbtq-job-discrimination

Will Sommer (December 17, 2020). How a QAnon-Backing Hormone Doctor Financed 2020’s Craziest, Scariest Election Conspiracy. The Daily Beast https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-a-qanon-backing-hormone-doctor-financed-2020s-craziest-scariest-election-conspiracy

Owen, Tess (December 16, 2020). The GOP Wellness Tycoon Bankrolling Election Fraud Vigilantism. Vice https://www.vice.com/en/article/akd754/the-gop-wellness-tycoon-bankrolling-election-fraud-vigilantism

Witkowski, D’Anne (February 5, 2020). Creep of the Week: Steven Hotze. PrideSource https://pridesource.com/article/creep-of-the-week-steven-hotze

Wright, John (October 18, 2018). Anti-LGBTQ Hate Group to Spend $1M on Ads Supporting GOP Candidates in Houston. OutSmart https://www.outsmartmagazine.com/2018/10/anti-lgbtq-hate-group-to-spend-1m-on-ads-supporting-gop-candidates-in-houston/

Wright, John (August 3, 2018). Hotze: Drag Queen Storytime Part of Sodomites’ Evil Plan to Recruit Kids Into Perverted Lifestyle. OutSmart https://www.outsmartmagazine.com/2018/08/hotze-drag-queen-storytime-part-of-sodomites-evil-plan-to-recruit-kids-into-perverted-lifestyle/

Wright, John (July 19, 2018). UDPATED: Hotze Compares Drag Queen Storytime to Pedophilia, Calls on Houston to Ban It. OutSmart https://www.outsmartmagazine.com/2018/07/anti-lgbtq-group-attacks-houston-public-librarys-drag-queen-storytime/

Staff report (July 25, 2017). The Texas Hate Group Behind Dan Patrick’s ‘Bathroom Bill’ Keeps Up Its Attacks on LGBT People. Texas Freedom Network https://tfn.org/texas-hate-group-behind-dan-patricks-bathroom-bill-keeps-attacks-lgbt-people/

Duffy, Nick (November 4, 2016). Republican politician: Gay people are like termites eating away at society. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2016/11/04/republican-politician-gay-people-are-like-termites-eating-away-at-society/

Wright, John (February 17, 2016). “Texas Conservative Group Makes National Hate Org List”. The Texas Observer.

Wright, John (December 18, 2015). Anti-Gay Houston Bigot Steve Hotze Says HERO Was Part Of ‘Satanic Movement’ – AUDIO. Towleroad https://www.towleroad.com/2015/12/anti-gay-houston-bigot-steve-hotze-says-hero-part-satanic-movement-audio/

Staff report (December 17, 2015). Houston Hate-Monger Steve Hotze: Transgender People Are Promoting a ‘Satanic Movement.’ Texas Freedom Network https://tfn.org/houston-hate-monger-steve-hotze-transgender-people-are-promoting-a-satanic-movement/

Staff report (October 26, 2015). Anti-LGBT Groups Ramp Up Transphobia Before Houston Vote. Southern Poverty Law Center https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/anti-lgbt-groups-ramp-transphobia-houston-vote/

Tashman, Bruan (October 20, 2015). Steve Hotze: Trans People Like Those Who Think They’re Cows And Cockroaches. People for the American Way https://www.peoplefor.org/rightwingwatch/post/steve-hotze-trans-people-like-those-who-think-theyre-cows-and-cockroaches

Baddour, Dylan (July 15, 2015). “Houston GOP activist Steven Hotze: ‘Kids will be encouraged to practice sodomy in kindergarten'”. Houston Chronicle.

Walters, Edgar (April 4, 2015). “Bathroom Bills” Pit Transgender Texans Against the GOP. Texas Tribune https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/04/bathroom-bills-pit-transgender-community-against-g/

Teachey, Lisa (February 2, 2001). Activist’s DWI case dismissed. Houston Chronicle https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/activist-s-dwi-case-dismissed-2010547.php

Anti-trans coverage

Staff report (June 19, 2025). In Loving Memory of Janie Hotze, Wife of Dr. Steven Hotze. Katy Christian Magazine https://katychristianmagazine.com/2025/06/19/in-loving-memory-of-janie-hotze-wife-of-dr-steven-hotze/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Arnold, Joshua (June 22, 2023). Christian Business Wins Exemption from Title VII, EEOC Transgender Rule. Washington Stand https://washingtonstand.com/news/religious-business-wins-exemption-from-title-vii-eeoc-transgender-rule

Staff report (March 20, 2023). Dr. Steven Forrest Hotze Reprimands Sexually Violent Democrat Senator José Menéndez for Underage Transgender Mutilation and LGBTQ+ Takeover. Katy Christian Magazine https://katychristianmagazine.com/2023/03/20/dr-steven-forrest-hotze-reprimands-sexually-violent-democrat-senator-jose-menendez-for-underage-transgender-mutilation-and-lgbtq-takeover/

Selected writing by Hotze

Hotze, Steven F. (July 20, 2017). There Is No Such Thing as Transgender. CRTX News https://crtxnews.com/no-thing-transgender/

Books

Hotze, Steven F. (2017). Do A 180: Join The Wellness Revolution. Advantage Media Group, ISBN 978-1599328751

Hotze, Steven F. (2013). Hormones, Health, and Happiness: A Natural Medical Formula for Rediscovering Youth with Bioidentical Hormones. Advantage Media Group, ISBN 978-1599323992

Hotze, Steven F. (2013). Hypothyroidism, Health & Happiness: The Riddle of Illness Revealed. Advantage Media Group, ISBN 978-1599323961

Hotze, Steven F. (2007). Hotze Optimal Eating Cookbook. Independently published, ASIN B000WHGPXW

Resources

Trans Data Library (transdatalibrary.org)

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Hotze Health & Wellness Center (hotzehwc.com)

Conservative Republicans of Harris County (crhcpac.com) [archive]

Liberty Center for God and Country (libertycgc.com) [archive]

CRTX News (crtxnews.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Substack (substack.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)