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As LGBTQ+ rights have progressed, so too have the efforts by anti-LGBTQ+ groups to roll back these gains. While the United States is home to several prominent anti-LGBTQ+ organizations, Europe is not immune to such movements either. These groups work to undermine LGBTQ+ rights in various ways, often using religious, political, or social arguments. Let’s take a closer look at some of these groups, their locations, and their impact on the LGBTQ+ community.

1. Religious Right / Christian Conservative Groups

United States:
In the US, the religious right plays a significant role in pushing back against LGBTQ+ rights, often using Christian ideology to justify their opposition.

• Focus on the Family (Colorado Springs, Colorado): This is one of the most prominent religious conservative organizations in the US, advocating against marriage equality, LGBTQ+ adoption, and other LGBTQ+ rights. They also promote “conversion therapy” and have been involved in campaigns to roll back legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals.
• The Family Research Council (FRC) (Washington, D.C.): A major player in conservative lobbying, the FRC has worked to oppose same-sex marriage and promote anti-LGBTQ+ policies at both the state and national levels. They push the idea that the LGBTQ+ community undermines “family values.”

Europe:
In Europe, conservative religious movements have also gained traction, influencing policies and public opinion.

• The Coalition for Marriage (United Kingdom): This group fought against same-sex marriage legislation in the UK. They argued that legalizing marriage equality would undermine traditional marriage and family structures. Despite same-sex marriage being legalized in 2014, the group continues to campaign against the legal recognition of LGBTQ+ couples.
• Catholic Church and Conservative Religious Groups (Poland): The Catholic Church holds significant influence in Poland, where LGBTQ+ rights have been a controversial topic. The church has been a vocal opponent of LGBTQ+ rights, especially same-sex marriage and adoption. Several Polish towns have declared themselves “LGBT-free zones,” which has sparked outrage and condemnation from human rights organizations. These zones reflect the broader anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment often tied to religious beliefs in the country.

2. “Ex-Gay” or “Conversion Therapy” Groups

United States:
The “ex-gay” movement is still alive in some corners of American society, even though many have publicly denounced it due to its harmful effects.

• Exodus International (formerly in Irvine, California): Though Exodus International shut down in 2013 after its leaders apologized for the damage caused by their conversion therapy practices, it was once the largest and most influential “ex-gay” group in the US. The group’s leaders apologized for the harm they caused to LGBTQ+ people by claiming they could “pray the gay away.”
• The National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) (California): This organization was a key player in promoting conversion therapy, advocating for the idea that same-sex attraction was a mental disorder that could be cured. Although NARTH no longer operates under this name, its legacy continues through various offshoots that push the harmful agenda of conversion therapy.

Europe:
The conversion therapy movement is not limited to the US—it has also found a presence in Europe, although it’s increasingly facing legal pushback.

• The Core Issues Trust (United Kingdom): This group promotes the idea that individuals can change their sexual orientation through therapy or religious intervention. Despite facing significant opposition from the UK government and medical professionals, the group continues to spread its harmful message through conferences and social media.
• Council of Europe (Strasbourg, France): While the Council of Europe works to protect human rights, it has also been critical of “conversion therapy” practices in Europe, calling for a complete ban on such treatments. Some European countries, like Switzerland, have already banned conversion therapy, but there are still countries where such practices persist.

3. Anti-Transgender Groups

United States:
There is a growing and disturbing movement in the US focused specifically on anti-transgender sentiments, especially targeting transgender women and children.

• The American College of Pediatricians (Washington, D.C.): This organization has been a vocal opponent of transgender rights, particularly transgender youth. They promote the idea that gender dysphoria in children should not be affirmed and that transitioning is harmful to minors, despite overwhelming support from the medical community for gender-affirming care.
• Save Women’s Sports (Nationwide): This group, which has grown in prominence, argues that transgender women should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports. Their rhetoric often fuels discrimination and violence against transgender individuals, especially transgender women of color.

Europe:
The anti-transgender movement is gaining ground in parts of Europe as well, particularly in the UK.

• Transgender Exclusionary Radical Feminists (TERFs) (United Kingdom): TERFs believe that transgender women are not “real” women and oppose the inclusion of transgender women in women’s spaces. Their rhetoric often overlaps with far-right politics and is seen as harmful to both cisgender and transgender women. The TERF movement has been particularly active in the UK, where debates about transgender rights and the proposed reforms to the Gender Recognition Act have sparked significant controversy.
• Polish Nationalist Groups (Poland): Poland has seen a rise in anti-transgender and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, particularly among far-right groups. These groups, including nationalist organizations like All-Polish Youth, often frame transgender rights as part of a broader cultural war and push for policies that exclude transgender people from legal recognition and healthcare.

4. Political Groups and Think Tanks

United States:
Several political think tanks and organizations in the US promote anti-LGBTQ+ policies under the guise of protecting “family values” or defending religious freedoms.

• The Heritage Foundation (Washington, D.C.): This conservative think tank is a vocal opponent of LGBTQ+ rights, particularly same-sex marriage, and has worked to push back against anti-discrimination laws. They frame the fight for LGBTQ+ equality as a threat to religious liberty and argue that LGBTQ+ rights conflict with traditional family structures.
• The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) (Scottsdale, Arizona): The ADF is one of the most influential legal groups in the US pushing for the protection of religious freedom at the expense of LGBTQ+ rights. They’ve been involved in numerous legal battles to defend businesses that refuse service to LGBTQ+ individuals on the basis of religious beliefs.

Europe:
In Europe, political movements promoting anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric are growing, especially among far-right and nationalist parties.

• Alternative for Germany (AfD) (Germany): A far-right political party in Germany that is openly hostile to LGBTQ+ rights. The AfD has campaigned against same-sex marriage and criticized the growing acceptance of LGBTQ+ rights in Germany, arguing that it threatens traditional family values.
• National Rally (Rassemblement National) (France): This far-right political party in France, led by Marine Le Pen, has voiced opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, particularly in relation to same-sex marriage and adoption. They’ve positioned themselves against the liberalizing trends in French society, including LGBTQ+ equality.

5. Far-Right and White Supremacist Groups

United States:
In the US, white supremacist and far-right extremist groups often target LGBTQ+ individuals as part of their broader agenda of division and hate.

• The Proud Boys (Nationwide): This far-right group has been involved in violent protests and demonstrations against LGBTQ+ people. The Proud Boys have made their opposition to LGBTQ+ rights clear through public statements, and their presence at protests and rallies has often led to violence and intimidation of LGBTQ+ individuals.
• Ku Klux Klan (KKK) (Nationwide): While the KKK’s focus is primarily on white supremacy, the group has long been an adversary of LGBTQ+ people. The KKK and other white nationalist groups often engage in violent acts and hate speech against LGBTQ+ people, contributing to a climate of fear and discrimination.

Europe:
In Europe, far-right groups also target LGBTQ+ people as part of their efforts to maintain racial and cultural “purity.”

• The Golden Dawn (Greece): This far-right group has a history of openly homophobic rhetoric and attacks against LGBTQ+ individuals. They have been involved in violent incidents targeting the LGBTQ+ community and have expressed strong opposition to any legal protections for LGBTQ+ people.
• Jobbik (Hungary): A nationalist party that has made anti-LGBTQ+ statements and opposed policies promoting LGBTQ+ rights. Their stance on LGBTQ+ issues is tied to their broader agenda of nationalism and traditional family values.

Conclusion: The Ongoing Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights

Across the world, both in the US and Europe, anti-LGBTQ+ groups continue to work to deny us our rights. From religious conservative groups to far-right political movements, their efforts cause harm not only to individuals but to society as a whole. But as these movements grow louder, so does the resistance. It’s up to all of us to push back against hate, support LGBTQ+ rights, and build a world where everyone, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity, is free to live without fear or discrimination.