A Trans Group Did Not Target Texas Children

Texas voters have been receiving a mailing from the Texas Transgender Student Union this week. This group does not exist! It’s not a legitimate student organization or advocacy group. It’s a fictitious entity used in an unsolicited political mailer and messaging campaign across Texas. If you received one of these in the mail, you are a victim of political astroturfing. This is the deceptive practice of orchestrating a top-down, funded campaign to create the false impression of spontaneous, bottom-up “grassroots” support, employing the herd instinct mentality against the target group.

This particular campaign is designed to alarm conservative voters to drive them to the polls. It should go without saying that GOP entities are behind this scheme, and spent a lot of money implementing it.

The Facts:

• The Mailers & Texts: Unsolicited mailers and text messages bearing the name “Texas Transgender Student Union” or promoting guides on transgender student resources have been sent to Texas households and older voter databases.
• The Return Address: Physical mailers list a return address tied to a private UPS store box in Meadows Place, Texas (1611 W Airport Blvd Ste 123).
• Denials by Real Advocates: The Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT) has publicly denied any association with or authorization of these mailers and text-message campaigns, issuing cease-and-desist notices to digital messaging companies involved.
• Political Context: Investigators and public reports have noted that this political mailer or marketing tactic was timed ahead of early voting to target or influence Texas voters. State lawmakers have also called for investigations into how recipient data was gathered.

If you got fooled into thinking a transgender organization actually sent this mailing to you, you’ve been manipulated right into the trap that was set for you.