40% of Republicans believe teachers can influence children’s sexual orientation or gender

Republican parents also get upset with teachers who mention their same-sex spouses (but not opposite-sex spouses).

A teacher in Kentucky got violent threats when he wrote an affirming message on his board.
Photo: Facebook screenshot

Conservatives have spent the last several months denouncing LGBTQ teachers as “groomers” and pedophiles, with rightwing pundits often saying that they believe that talking to children about LGBTQ issues can turn kids gay.

It turns out that a large number of Republicans believe that teachers can actually make children turn queer.

Related: GOP lawmaker has meltdown in public & screams at voters

40% of Republican adults said that they believe teachers can influence students’ sexuality and gender identity, according to a new Morning Consult poll. Only 27% of Democrats and 29% of independents agreed.

Respondents were more likely in the poll to say that teachers can affect students’ academic performance, social skills, intelligence, values, and even religious views, but the alarmingly large number who believe that sexual orientation and gender identity are learned at school may be why so many Republican parents don’t want LGBTQ people to work with children.

The survey found that 31% of Republican parents are “uncomfortable” with…

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