By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice
“I am a real life gay man,” said Dr. Rich Guggenheim, a Coloradan and director of legislation for Gays Against Groomers as he spoke Wednesday on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court advocating for children’s rights.
Guggenheim has lobbied and testified against bills he believes harm children. Guggenheim’s advocacy includes leading ballot initiatives to protect girls’ sports and parental rights. He also sued Colorado legislators in federal court for violating 1st Amendment rights.
On the Supreme Court steps, Guggenheim condemned the irreversible medical treatments of children.
“We as an organization oppose the indoctrination, sexualization and the mutilation of children under the guise of LGBTQ+ rights,” he stated.
🔥 WATCH: Gays Against Groomers Director of Legislation Dr. Rich Guggenheim (@5280BasedHomo) speaks on the steps of the Supreme Court to protect children!
— Gays Against Groomers (@againstgrmrs) December 4, 2024
We will not stand idly by as children are sterilized and butchered in OUR name. #GaysAgainstGroomers pic.twitter.com/pSZc7O4Ar0
Guggenheim opened by addressing a shift in how the media portrays gay and lesbian communities. He expressed concern that their values have been overshadowed by harmful ideologies targeting children.
“The gay community has never supported anything that would harm children,” he emphasized. “But our community has been colonized and distorted into something unrecognizable.”
This reclamation of community integrity serves as a cornerstone of Gays Against Groomers’ mission. Guggenheim urged, “We simply must draw the line. We must sound the alarm on how these so-called gender affirming practices are leading to irreversible psychological and physical harm to children. [They] strain and [create] broken family relationships, having a detrimental effect on society.”
Guggenheim called for a halt in using puberty blockers and hormone treatments on children. He called them dangerous and life-altering. He highlighted the risks of off-label drugs, like Lupron.
“Puberty blockers like Lupron are being given off-label to healthy children,” he warned. “There’s nothing affirming or inclusive about lying to children and convincing them that they are born in the wrong body.”
He said society must not continue to ignore the harmful effects of these interventions.
“Puberty blockers and wrong sex hormones, when prescribed to children who are not experiencing precocious puberty, can cause a host of medical side effects. It robs children of their innocence. And deprives them of happy, healthy, productive adult lives,” Guggenheim asserted.
The rally also included stories from detransitioners, expressing anguish after experiencing the physical toll of gender-affirming surgeries. Guggenheim emphasized the importance of amplifying these voices, as they reveal the long-term consequences of early medical interventions.
“We’ve heard from numerous detransitioners who regret the permanent changes made to their bodies during their youth, based on the false premise that they’d be happier than ever. That is a lie,” he said.
Guggenheim argued against claims that Gays Against Groomers is hateful and anti-LGBTQ+. hateful.
“Our stance is grounded in science, ethics and human rights,” he explained. “It is in the best interest of the LGBTQ+ community to advocate for policies that ensure that the treatments provided are appropriate, evidence-based and in the best interest of the child.”
Guggenheim wrapped up with a plea for community participation. He urged parents, educators, and advocates to speak up in local and state government to protect future generations.
“Testify at your school boards, testify at your city council and show up to your state capitals to fight for the protection of children,” he implored. “Our future depends on you getting involved in this fight today.”