Last fall, I gave a sermon about moral panics such as the “Satanic Panic” of the 1980s. A moral panic involves whipped-up hysteria about an identified “folk devil.” The folk devil is usually a marginalized group, and a narrative is made about them that outrages the public as they see them as a threat to societal values. Moral panics have included the Salem witch trials, rock musicians, and the “Satanic panic.”

Expert on moral panics, Stanley Cohen, outlined five stages of a moral panic:

1. Someone, something or a group are defined as a threat to social norms or community interests
2. The threat is then depicted in a simple and recognizable symbol/form by the media
3. The portrayal of this symbol rouses public concern
4. There is a response from authorities and policy makers
5. The moral panic over the issue results in social changes within the community

Sound familiar?

The attack on transgender people is clearly, inarguably a moral panic. What makes me physically sick is that the trans community was deliberately and cold-heartedly chosen to be this year’s folk devil. As explained in the New York Times article, How a Campaign Against Transgender Rights Mobilized Conservatives, social conservatives met to strategize. They realized that marriage equality was a losing topic – it’s too popular across the U.S.

So they picked trans people. Especially trans youth. This would be the folk devil that they could whip up hysteria about.

This past Tuesday, at the Texas State Capitol, Unitarian Universalists and others gathered to protest Senate Bill 14 which would ban gender-affirming care for youth. They did what we’ve been doing so many times this session — sang songs, held up signs, and tried to appeal to the hearts and minds of the congresspeople would be voting. But this time, state police removed our activists from the Capitol, arresting some, including Adri Perez, who visited Live Oak last month to invite us to another rally.

It was scary and demoralizing. Many of our people who were there were very shaken up … and yet, they are vowing to return. My hope is that many more of us will be able to join them.

If you’re not already on the Texas UU Justice Ministry’s email list, you can subscribe here. They will be sending out information with calls to action about this, such as when to meet at the Capitol, how to call your congresspeople and other actions.

This “moral panic” is a manufactured hysteria purely to stir up votes and attention for social conservatives. But it will impact real people’s lives. Innocent people, defined as the folk devil of the day. What I hope all people realize is that as easily as the target was put on the backs of trans people, it can be put on anyone.

“First they came for the …”