Draft:Child Protection League
{{AFC submission|d|nn|u=Kalinaleggs|ns=118|decliner=Mwwv|declinets=20250303204532|ts=20250131064523}}
{{AFC submission|d|nn|u=Kalinaleggs|ns=118|decliner=Reading Beans|declinets=20250131063151|small=yes|ts=20250131062833}}
{{AFC comment|1=The new source appears to be a Wordpress site, which is unreliable per WP:RSPWORDPRESS. mwwv converse∫edits 20:45, 3 March 2025 (UTC)}}
----
{{Draft topics|biography|education|society}}
{{AfC topic|org}}
The Child Protection League (CPL) is a recognized hate group {{Cite web |date=2025-01-30 |title=Hate Map |url=https://www.splcenter.org/hate-map/?hm_year=2023&hm_state=MN |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=Southern Poverty Law Center |language=en-US}}{{fv|reason=page just gives there name and labels as 'antigovernment general' not a hate group}} that spreads harmful misinformation under the guise of “protecting children.” It is based in Champlin, Minnesota. Founded by Barb Anderson, CPL is known for presenting factually inaccurate information, pushing false LGBTQ+ stereotypes, and promoting fear-based narratives that are overwhelmingly rejected by students and educators alike{{Cite web |last=Cruzen |first=Imani |title=2 Becker school board members resign following backlash after an anti-LGBT presentation |url=https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/2022/04/21/two-becker-public-schools-board-members-resign-following-backlash-against-board-approved-anti-lgbt-p/7394716001/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=St. Cloud Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Vogt-Erickson |first=Jennifer |date=2020-02-25 |title=My Point of View: Don't spread fear, misinformation about bill |url=https://www.albertleatribune.com/2020/02/my-point-of-view-dont-spread-fear-misinformation-about-bill/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=Albert Lea Tribune |language=en}}.
Originally focused on attacking LGBTQ+ people, CPL has since broadened its scope of hate to include far-right conspiracy theories about public education{{Cite web |last=Kasprak |first=Alex |date=2024-08-30 |title=No, Minnesota Law Approved by Walz Doesn't Ban Christians, Jews or Muslims from Teaching |url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/tim-walz-bans-christians/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=Snopes |language=en}}. Despite Minnesota ranking among the top states in the nation for education, CPL falsely claims that schools are failing students by promoting Marxism, critical race theory, and gender identity education. They encourage parents to “opt their kids out” of discussions about science, history, and social issues, effectively advocating for ignorance over education.
CPL's Chair is Julie Quist, a former Michelle Bachman staffer and ex-wife of Allen Quist, a failed candidate for congress{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Tim |title=If You Thought Michele Bachmann Was Out There… |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/05/allen-quist-michele-bachmann-campaign/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=Mother Jones |language=en-US}}. Julie is known for her interview on KDJS AM{{Cite web |last=Birkey |first=Andy |date=2016-05-04 |title=Child Protection League's Julie Quist doesn't have even a basic understanding of LGBTQ people |url=https://thecolu.mn/22948/quist |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=The Column |language=en-US}} where she made numerous false claims including gender dysphoria and body dysmorphia are the same, Alfred Kinsey was the father of the "transgender movement", and being transgender is a mental disorder.
At the center of this extremist movement is Barb Anderson, who has long been a driving force behind anti-LGBTQ+ hate in Minnesota. Former head of the Parents Action League and founder of Child Protection League, Anderson is infamous for spreading dangerous falsehoods{{Cite web |last=jeremyhooper |date=2012-06-29 |title=Barb Anderson {{!}} GLAAD |url=https://glaad.org/gap/barb-anderson/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=glaad.org |language=en-US}}. Perhaps her most horrific and telling remark came when she was asked whether her hate group bore responsibility for the rising suicide rates among LGBTQ+ youth in her community—her response was that being gay itself leads to disease and death{{Cite magazine |last=Erdely |first=Sabrina Rubin |date=2012-02-02 |title=One Town's War on Gay Teens |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/one-towns-war-on-gay-teens-232572/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}.
By disguising bigotry as “parental rights” {{Cite web |last1=O’Neil |first1=Moira |last2=Institute |first2=Nat Kendall-Taylor Senior Vice President of Research Interpretation at the FrameWorks Institute; Chief Executive Officer at the FrameWorks |date=2024-05-17 |title=Why the Parents' Rights Movement (Still) Matters |url=https://www.newsweek.com/why-parents-rights-movement-still-matters-opinion-1901581 |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}and fear-mongering about public schools, CPL continues to push a regressive, fact-free agenda that endangers LGBTQ+ youth, spreads disinformation, and undermines one of the best education systems in the country.