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| - FACT CHECK: Did A Democratic California Representative Claim That Pedophilia Is ‘An Identity’?
A video shared on Facebook claims Democratic California Rep. Katie Porter said that pedophilia “isn’t a crime,” but an “identity” instead.
Verdict: False
Fact Check:
LGBTQ rights groups and activists have recently spoken out regarding the use of the term “groomer” to describe sections of the movement, according to The New York Times. This follows a shouting at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Nov. 22, the outlet reported.
The Facebook post purports Porter said pedophilia is not a crime. The video features Porter phoning in through video and a “C-SPAN3” chyron.
“Rep Katie Porter (D) says pedophilia isn’t a crime- it’s an identity,” the post’s caption reads. “This is not a political party, it’s a mentally ill club! These people are making me sick!!”
The claim was also posted to Twitter, where it garnered over 7,400 retweets. (RELATED: Did The U.S. Navy JAG Corps Create A Child Sex Crimes Division?)
Rep Katie Porter (D) says pedophilia isn’t a crime- it’s an identity. pic.twitter.com/M7iyTlqpX2
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 15, 2022
This video is taken out of context. A clip from C-SPAN shows Porter was referring to online allegations that people who identify as LGBTQ+ are groomers. “The groomer narrative is an age-old lie to position LGBTQ+ people as a threat,” she says earlier in the video.
“This allegation of groomer and pedophile, it is alleging a person is criminal somehow and engaged in criminal acts based on their ideology,” Porter continued. At no point does the lawmaker defend or suggest that pedophilia is an identity itself.
“Rep. Porter did not say that pedophilia is an identity,” a spokesperson for Porter told Check Your Fact in an email.
Porter has been very outspoken about her support of the LGBTQ+ community.
I hope we all think about the voices we’re not hearing––voices that are being silenced by discrimination, harassment, and prejudice. In Congress, you have my word: I’m proud to get loud for our LGBTQ+ kids. I promise to lift up your voices every day.
— Katie Porter (@katieporteroc) April 12, 2019
This is not the first time misinformation about child endangerment has been shared online. Check Your Fact recently debunked a claim a child trafficking camp owned by the Clinton Foundation was discovered in Arizona.
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