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.
TheĀ Southern Poverty Law CenterĀ (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.
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.
References
Bond-Theriault, Candace (April 19, 2022). The Right Targets Queer Theory. The Nation https://www.thenation.com/article/society/christopher-rufo-queer-theory/
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/
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
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
Drennen, Ari (JuneĀ 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
Media
āTrans Kidsā Are the New Totem of the American Left (Mar 16, 2023) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39IiYHDp3KI
New Hampshire Schools Push Biological Males in Girlsā Locker Rooms (Feb 7, 2023) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHei5pLCWNY
Church of England Announces First āNon-Binaryā Priest (Jan 20, 2023) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAGs-ayVUHo
UConn Professor: āEveryone Is A Little Transā (Jan 3, 2023) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7B0moIpnaE
Animated Film Teaches Kids that “Mama Has a Mustache” (Dec 5, 2022) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5n1m2eXUDw
Resources
Substack (substack.com)
Twitter (twitter.com)
YouTube (youtube.com)
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Manhattan Institute (manhattan.institute)