rights
Remember when a GOP lawmaker who said trans people “harm” kids pled guilty to child porn charges?
By Daniel Villarreal at LGBTQ Nation
· July 8, 2026
· 3 min read
South Carolina state Rep. RJ May (R) — an anti-LGBTQ+ politician who has accused drag queens and transgender people of harming kids — pleaded guilty last Friday to distributing child sex abuse material (CSAM) after first denying it, Newsweek reported — including images of adults sexually abusing sev
Key takeaway The anti-LGBTQ+ "parents' rights" group Moms for Liberty honored the child pornographer as their 2023 Legislator of the Year.
Why this matters
The guilty plea of South Carolina state Rep. RJ May to distributing child sex abuse material highlights the stark contrast between his public stance on LGBTQ+ issues and his private actions. May's vocal opposition to drag shows and gender-affirming care, which he framed as efforts to protect children, now appear as a stark hypocrisy given his own involvement in the exploitation of children. The fact that he was honored by the anti-LGBTQ+ group Moms for Liberty as their 2023 Legislator of the Year further underscores the need for scrutiny of politicians who use "parents' rights" rhetoric to advance anti-LGBTQ+ agendas. As May faces up to 100 years in prison, the case raises questions about the accountability of public figures who use their platforms to harm marginalized communities while hiding their own wrongdoing. The National LGBTQ Task Force and other advocacy groups may be watching this case closely to see how it impacts the broader national conversation around LGBTQ+ rights and protections.
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 8, 2026 ·
Source: LGBTQ Nation ·
Reading time: 3 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? South Carolina state Rep. RJ May (R) — an anti-LGBTQ+ politician who has accused drag queens and transgender people of harming kids — pleaded guilty last Friday to distributing child sex abuse material (CSAM) after first denying it, Newsweek reported — including images of adults sexually abusing sev
When was this published? This article was first published on July 8, 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 .