Thread by @Esqueer_

For the last year, bomb threats have been connected to anti LGBTQ hate.

In particular, there are multiple verified instances of correlation between bomb threats and Libs of Tiktok's tweets within a broader epidemic of bomb threats tied to anti LGBTQ hate.

A thread: 🧵

Back in May, LoTT tweeted about Kiel, Wisconsin launching a Title IX investigation into the bullying of a trans student. The school was hit with several bomb threats causing them to close and go remote. The school caved and dropped the investigation.

pbswisconsin.org/news-item/bomb….

The most high profile instance of bomb threats was Boston Children's after LoTT spent weeks going after them. At least 2 people have been arrested for making bomb threats against Boston Children's. It's still happening, but due to how often, the news stopped covering it.

In October, LoTT tweeted about an obvious troll wearing massive fake prosthetic breasts in Canada. The school has been subjected to months of bomb threats, some by the same person who sent threats to Boston Children's. The threats are still ongoing.

globalnews.ca/news/9282243/o…

Earlier in December, LoTT heavily promoted an edited video by Project Veritas about a dean at Francis Parker high school. A few days later, the school was hit by bomb threats and forced to evacuate.

abc7chicago.com/francis-parker…

California state senator Scott Weiner has been the subject of LoTT's tweets at least twice this year, in June and December. In June, the threats followed a tweet by LoTT. In December, LoTT mocked Sen. Weiner days after he received bomb threats.

A school in Maine was targeted because a social worker did not out a trans student at the school. LoTT tweeted about the school after the bomb threats but she failed to mention it after she amplified the story further.

newscentermaine.com/article/news/e…

This is a small microcosm of an epidemic of bomb threats and mass shooting threats being made around the country.

Tufts University in Boston has been hit with several this month, particularly targeting their rainbow stairs and DEI programs.

boston.com/news/local-new…

It's also not just linked to libs of Tiktok. After a severely misleading Fox News article about a teacher who has a queer book library, the school was targeted with bomb threats.

thecapistranodispatch.com/sheriffs-depar…

This has been a massively underreported problem for the last year. It's not just bomb threats but also threats of mass shootings. It's stoking fear around the country.
npr.org/2022/10/07/112…

insidehighered.com/news/2022/07/1…

One common name keeps popping up in multiple disparate bomb threats aimed at California State Sen. Weiner, Boston Children's, and multiple schools. "Zamina Tataro" has been used as a Gmail account name in several of these bomb threats.

nationalpost.com/news/bomb-thre…

There's a clear pattern of bomb threats following not just LoTT tweets, but any national or international coverage of anti-LGBTQ stories. This is clearly the work of people intending to terrorize communities despite doing so under the pretense of "protecting children."

This is only scratching the surface. The number of threats against the LGBTQ community this year have been off the charts. It's insanely hard to keep track. I uncovered more stories as I researched for this thread. I now have to have a Google alert set for "bomb threats."

This is not just a US problem but also a broader North American problem as threats are also occurring in Canada. In not sure what can be done as this is a low cost means of inflicting terror with throwaway email accounts. It's clear something needs to change though.

I don't think this will get any better next year. Things will likely continue to escalate as there has been no meaningful pushback on the anti LGBTQ hate machine being propagated on social media and far right media. I really hope these threats don't escalate into real bombs.