rights
Recall when a Republican who said trans folks put girls at “risk” helped his child-raping relative?
By Daniel Villarreal at LGBTQ Nation
· July 12, 2026
· 5 min read
State Sen. J. Stuart Adams, Republican leader of the Utah Senate, once said that transgender athletes put cisgender girls at risk. Now, he's facing criticism for his help to keep his 18-year-old relative out of jail after the relative raped a 13-year-old. Adams helped change a state law to give his
Key takeaway Now, he's facing criticism for his help to keep his 18-year-old relative out of jail after the relative raped a 13-year-old.
Why this matters
The case of State Sen. J. Stuart Adams and his relative highlights the stark contrast between the rhetoric and actions of some Republican leaders on issues of sexual assault and LGBTQ+ rights. Adams' previous comments about transgender athletes posing a risk to cisgender girls take on a different light given his efforts to secure a lighter sentence for his relative, who was accused of raping a 13-year-old. The fact that the new law, which aided his relative, was drafted by the relative's defense attorney and sponsored by a fellow Republican senator, raises questions about the influence of personal connections in shaping legislation. This incident also underscores the hypocrisy of some Conservatives who rail against "groomers" while supporting leaders like Donald Trump, who have faced similar allegations. The national implications of this case are significant, as it speaks to the broader issue of how those in power use their influence to shape laws and protect their own interests, often at the expense of marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals.
About this story
Original reporting by LGBTQ Nation . LGBTQ News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit LGBTQ Nation . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: rights ·
Published: July 12, 2026 ·
Source: LGBTQ Nation ·
Reading time: 5 min
Get more LGBTQ News stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering rights and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? State Sen. J. Stuart Adams, Republican leader of the Utah Senate, once said that transgender athletes put cisgender girls at risk. Now, he's facing criticism for his help to keep his 18-year-old relative out of jail after the relative raped a 13-year-old. Adams helped change a state law to give his
When was this published? This article was first published on July 12, 2026 by LGBTQ Nation and curated for LGBTQ News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Daniel Villarreal at LGBTQ Nation. To learn more about how LGBTQ News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more rights coverage from LGBTQ News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .