College Students Call Transphobic Texas Candidate ‘Fascist’

Protesters shouted down a Texas State House candidate while speaking at a March 2 event at the University of North Texas (UNT).

Jeff Younger, a transphobic republican who is running to become a Texas state representative, was invited to speak at UNT by the university’s Young Conservatives of Texas chapter. Videos on social media show students banging on desks and chanting, “Fuck you fascist,” as Younger mockingly claps and misgenders protesters. 

Anti-trans Texas House candidate Jeff Younger came to the University of North Texas and this is how students responded. pic.twitter.com/vmsH2aV0xf

— Dallas (@59dallas) March 3, 2022

Neal Smatresk UNT President says in a written statement that “the police believe a small group of protestors not affiliated with the university contributed to escalating the overall protest from peaceful to an aggressive encounter.” 

The event was limited to only 80 attendees, but some protestors gathered outside the building chanting and holding signs. Other protestors surrounded the police vehicles, where the student organizers and Younger were, and attempted to block their exit from the scene. 

Joshua Madeiros, leader of a Young Conservatives of Texas chapter from another university, told CNN that Younger was able to talk for only about five minutes of the 45 minutes he was supposed to speak. 

“It got to the point that any time he opened his mouth, there were three or four people in the crowd yelling at him, and the rest were booing him or making noises,” Madeiros says. 

The next day Younger wrote a message on his Facebook page saying that “our republican-controlled legislature must act immediately by banning child transitions and protecting free speech on college campuses.” 

“If I’m elected, I will fight unceasingly to stop the child abuse perpetuated by transgender ideologues,” he added. 

After years of legal battles, Younger lost the custody of his transgender daughter, Luna, who has been in the spotlight for more than two years for her transition (which her father refuses to acknowledge). He claims that “the state of Texas is trying to transition my son into a girl.” 

In a more recent Facebook post, Younger says, “My five-year campaign to shut down these barbaric abuses is bearing fruit,” referring to the news that the nation’s largest pediatric hospital announced it had stopped transgender therapies for kids.

Younger claims that supporting his daughter’s identity is child abuse and that her life and the lives of other transgender children are in danger.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Younger for Texas on Facebook