Amid chronically online, right-wing leaning spaces, a new transphobic conspiracy theory has expanded over the past 8 years. This conspiracy theory is akin to other right-wing conspiracy theories, such as QAnon and “Pizzagate”. “Transvestigation,” which is the theory that many famous celebrities, public figures, and politicians are secretly transgender. This theory uses “armchair phrenology”, a pseudoscientific analysis of body posture, language, and physiology to discover physical “discrepancies”. They claim to identify “male” or “female” bone structures. This practice has no scientific validity; scientific experts dismiss it as complete nonsense and warn of its dangers in scientific practice. “Transvestigation” slightly mirrors eugenics in its approach, which relies on personal biases and racial or prejudiced-based approaches to biology.
These conspiracy theories are based on bigotry and unrealistic, warped views of social, racial, or sexual human dynamics. While this rhetoric is powered by conservative, right-leaning pundits, not even far-right public figures are safeguarded from scrutiny. The latest victim under the bigoted gaze of MAGA conspiracy theorists is Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk. “Transvestigators” on social media began claiming that Erika is secretly transgender shortly after her husband’s death in mid-September. Since then, internet detectives have dissected every photo and video of his widow. They search for “proof” of their unfounded claims.
Turning Point USA’s co-founder, Charlie Kirk, was shot and killed while speaking at a Utah Valley college campus. Regarded as a right-wing political commentator, debater, and activist, Charlie Kirk’s messaging surrounds the same harmful rhetoric that ultimately led to his untimely demise. Turning Point USA produced content centered around conservative, transphobic, pro-gun, and racist messaging. This rhetoric amongst most right-wing channels creates perfect pockets on the internet for radicalization. It also proves how harmful and dangerous ideologies meant to instill fear and control eventually “eat their own”.
The “Transvestigation” Movement Targets Erika Kirk
Right-wing users began spreading rumors of Erika being an “invert” – a derogatory term used to refer to someone attracted to the same sex or gender as themselves. They tauntfully refer to her as “Erik” with right-wing Facebook groups obsessively scrutinizing Erika Kirk’s appearance. A Facebook group called “Transvestigation Disclosure NOW” with over 53,000 members seems to be the primary pundit of these conspiracies. The movement’s growth alarms LGBTQ+ advocates. They warn about increasing transphobia in political discourse.
These self-proclaimed “investigators” in this group analyzed photos from her Miss Arizona pageant days. They claim to find evidence of her supposed “true” gender. User Karen Starbucs posted several pageant photos. Starbucs declared, “That is a man. as most pageant winners are.” The post examined Kirk’s jawline, collarbone, and thigh gap. These anatomical features become “proof” of their claims. Starbucs then added, “Erik(a) kirk, straight collar bones, his legs aren’t normal female anatomy either.” Some of the comments were divided, but most seemingly agree with Starbucs. One user claimed, “Of course almost all models, especially agent models and Victoria Secret models are mostly (trans women).” Another called her a “filthy Luciferian,” with comments sharing their approval.
Conspiracy Theorists Dissect Pageant Photos for “Evidence”
Other conspiracy theorists cite old footage of Erika Kirk from over a decade ago. In the video, Erika Kirk can be seen describing herself as a “tomboy” in childhood, which investigators believed provided evidence she was assigned male at birth. A conservative content creator on social media made a video claiming that he could not find pregnancy photos of Erika. He also pointed out that she had “little boy hips“, citing this as proof of her secretly being transgender. These amateur sleuths ignore basic facts. Many women have similar body types. Many women describe themselves as tomboys. The conspiracy twists normal traits into “evidence.” This pattern repeats across the movement’s history.
The Dangerous Pseudoscience Behind “Transvestigation”
The movement’s methodology lacks any scientific basis. “Transvestigators” use phrenology – a pseudoscientific practice that bases a person’s traits on the shape of their skull. This practice was debunked over a century ago. However, in spite of scientific backing discrediting phrenology, right-wing investigators continue to claim that the skull shapes reveal their secrets. The theories hinge on transphobic beliefs, and adherents think gender nonconformity equals deception. They believe successful people must have gained status through “nefarious means.” This thinking reveals deep-seated prejudice that is often connected to broader right-wing conspiracies. This creates a dangerous ecosystem where transphobic, racis,t and bigoted sentiments are allowed to gain weight without any substantial and factual evidence.
“Elite Gender Inversion” Theory
According to an article by Quispe Lopez published on Them, the broader ideology behind “transvestigation” is the “Elite Gender Inversion” theory. Quispe Lopez explains that this concept is the belief that claims most famous people are secretly trans. Believers think they belong to a “cultish cabal.” The cabal supposedly controls the world, and the conspiracy is deeply tied to antisemitic tropes. The conspiracy goes as far as claiming Jewish people run the world and are responsible for a myriad of absurd world events or occurrences.
Conspiracy theorists have also claimed Mossad or other intelligence agencies are responsible for orchestrating major world events. Even in the immediate aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death, a tirade of conspiracy theories surrounding the reasons, the identity, and political leanings of the shooter began appearing on social media. Right-wing activists blamed the left-wing “rhetoric” and incited violence towards left-leaning politicians.
However, others further down the conservative pipeline believe more nefarious forces are at play. Prominent conservative YouTube political commentator Candace Owens believes Charlie Kirk was assassinated because of his alleged change of views towards Israel. Candace Owens is vehemently antisemitic and anti-Israel, and believes that Charlie was refusing funding from AIPAC and other related lobbies. While these claims are baseless, figures like Candace Owens broadcast to a viewership of approximately 150,000 people on her live streams. This means she can proliferate these false claims rapidly and far-reaching. This creates real-world dangers for targeted individuals.
Charlie Kirk Faces Posthumous Accusations
Even in the wake of his death, Charlie Kirk was not safe from the transphobic scrutiny of the “transvestigators”. Some theorists now claim he was also transgender, with one commenter writing, “Yup, that’s why Charlie Kirk seemed so feminine and emasculated because she was a transgender handler”. According to these communities, a ‘handler’ is someone who controls the alleged transgender cabal. What is ironic is that the Kirks built their careers on anti-trans rhetoric. They supported policies harming transgender people. Yet the conspiracy consumes its own.
Erika Kirk’s public appearances shortly after Charlie’s death have sparked much speculation amongst right-wing pundits. She appeared on “The Charlie Kirk Show” 5 days after his memorial service with a bright and bubbly demeanor. While some viewers were surprised by her behavior, other people raised their suspicions. These conspiracies were further exacerbated by Erika Kirk hugging Vice President JD Vance at a Turning Point event. Many people from both left and right-wing spheres online commented on how intimate the hug was.
From Conspiracy to Antisemitic Narratives
Most right-wing conspiracy theories spiral into antisemitism, and the “transvestigation” conspiracy is no different. Theorists connected Erika Kirk to Mossad conspiracie,s claiming she participated in international trafficking schemes. However, these allegations, like all their other claims, are baseless with no substantial evidence ever presented to back these claims. The People’s Voice platform has amplified these claims. Over the past month, the narrative has grown and twisted into wild claims. Some believe Charlie Kirk’s death was orchestrated. Others think he is still alive.
The movement’s anti-trans rhetoric has intensified. Right-wing pundits weaponize these theories. Candace Owens has repeatedly claimed Brigitte Macron is trans. She faces a defamation lawsuit. Greg Gutfeld suggested John Krasinski is transgender. Fox News aired these claims. The 2024 election saw this strategy used by the Republican Party to attack Democrat Kamala Harris. Republicans claimed Kamala Harris fixated on trans issues. Meanwhile, they used transphobia to mobilize voters. This creates a dangerous political climate. Transgender people face increased threats and have even experienced violence that has led to death. LGBTQ+ advocates warn about escalating dangers.
The Psychological Impact of Conspiratorial Thinking
Dr. Zishan Khan, a pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist, voiced deep concerns about people’s reliance on AI and conspiratorial thinking. He sees many children depending on AI for schoolwork and warns about the long-term psychological effects of this dependence. The same principles apply to conspiratorial thinking, which weakens critical thinking skills. Conspiratorial thinking replaces evidence with blind belief, diminishing the neural connections for processing factual information. Young, chronically online users fall into algorithm-driven rabbit holes where misinformation is abundant, and their minds lack the defenses to distinguish facts from fiction. Facts, therefore, become optional; belief assumes paramount importance, fundamentally threatening any reasonable conclusions or discourse.
Adherents of the “transvestigation” conspiracy and parallel conspiracies are usually threatened by social change. Instead, they seek radical, oftentimes absurd reasoning to validate their worldview or as solutions to the world’s problems. Right-wing and conspiracy forums provide community, offering alienated people a space. It also offers access to “secret knowledge”.This creates dangerous echo chambers that foster an environment perfect for radicalization. The movement’s growth since 2017 alarms experts. It correlates with rising anti-LBGTQ+ legislation. Over 500 anti-trans bills were introduced in 2024 alone. This represents a coordinated attack. The conspiracy theories provide justification. They dehumanize transgender people. This creates permission for discrimination.
How the Kirks’ Anti-Trans Record Intensifies the Irony
The Kirks built their careers on anti-trans advocacy. Charlie Kirk frequently attacked transgender rights. He supported discriminatory policies, which Erika Kirk continues to champion by participating in right-wing political rallies. She frames her husband’s death in political terms, suggesting it should be used to strengthen the Trump administration’s agenda, which includes anti-trans policies. The conspiracy theory’s target is therefore ironic, as The Kirks benefited from and even championed transphobia.
LGBTQ+ advocates note this irony. Samantha Riedel wrote about the situation. She explains the conspiracy’s internal logic. It requires constant new targets. Even allies become suspects. This creates instability. The movement cannot maintain coherence. It fractures along impossible standards. The Kirks’ situation demonstrates this. The conspiracy ignores their actual record and invents new narratives to serve the conspiracy’s needs.
The Real-World Consequences of Online Harassment
Erika Kirk still faces intense online scrutiny with transvestigators analysing her movements, dissecting her appearance, and making outlandish claims about her sexuality. Studies show online abuse causes anxiety, leads to depression, and can cause PTSD. Conspiracy theories proliferate rapidly across social media platforms, where algorithms are specifically designed to amplify divisive content.
Divisive content online generates clicks and engagement and is meant to trap the user for hours. Facebook groups often become breeding grounds for extremism, while platforms like X spread misinformation rapidly. Online harassment can quickly translate into real-life dangers for targeted individuals, whose families become collateral damage in harassment campaigns. Threats made online frequently extend beyond the online sphere into real-world threats and intimidation.
The Kirks helped create the environment they now inhabit by promoting anti-trans rhetoric and supporting discriminatory policies. Their situation could have offered a teachable moment instead Charlie’s death has bolstered right-wing and conservative pundits’ calls for violence against the left. The snake “eating itself” is a clear demonstration of what occurs when hatred in these online communities goes unchecked.
The movement they once championed now consumes its own architects, demonstrating that no one escapes the consequences of stoking division. Anti-trans records provide no protection when conspiracy movements invent their own reality, ignoring facts to construct narratives serving their ideological needs. These movements spiral beyond anyone’s control, eventually turning violently on their creators. The danger lies in movements that cannot be contained once unleashed.
What This Reveals About Right-Wing Politics
The transvestigation movement exposes underlying anxieties. It reflects fear of social change, discomfort with gender diversity, and a desperation to maintain traditional hierarchies. The movement targets successful women. It questions their legitimacy. This serves patriarchal interests. It reinforces narrow gender norms. It punishes deviation. The Kirks’ case is particularly revealing. They built careers enforcing these norms. Now they face enforcement themselves. This creates a paradox. The movement cannot be satisfied. It requires constant new targets. This creates instability. It fractures communities. It undermines trust.
The political implications concern observers. The movement intertwines with antisemitism. It connects to QAnon. It links to “Pizzagate.” This creates a dangerous mixture. It justifies violence. It dehumanizes targets. The Kirks’ situation demonstrates this. The theories escalate quickly. They become increasingly extreme. This pattern repeats across right-wing movements. Purity tests become impossible. Allies become suspects. This creates paranoia. It drives radicalization. The movement consumes itself. This serves no productive purpose. It only creates harm. The Kirks’ experience proves this. Their anti-trans advocacy offered no protection.
Read More: Emotional Response from Charlie Kirk’s Longtime Rival After His Death
The Danger of Conspiratorial Thinking
The transvestigation conspiracy targeting the Kirks serves as a stark warning about how unfounded theories spread virally. These movements demonstrate tangible, real-world consequences that extend far beyond online discourse. Conspiracy theories typically begin targeting a celebrity before they expand to target political figures. Eventually, conspiracy theories will begin to encompass ordinary people within their target scope.
The Kirks themselves helped construct the hostile environment now consuming them through their promotion of anti-trans rhetoric and support for discriminatory policies. Yet this irony must not obscure the genuine danger these theories pose to vulnerable communities. Conspiracy movements actively harm real people by creating social permission for violence and harassment. They systematically undermine democratic norms by replacing evidence-based reasoning with unfounded belief systems. This ideological shift fundamentally threatens society’s institutional foundations.
Over 500 anti-trans bills introduced in 2024 represent coordinated legislative attacks on transgender rights. Transvestigation conspiracy theories provide ideological justification, manufacturing moral panic that dehumanizes transgender people systematically. This rhetoric translates directly into escalating violence against transgender individuals. Transgender people experience intensified harassment, workplace discrimination, and documented mental health crises.
The Kirks’ case illuminates how conspiracy movements operate without restraint or accountability – it will target its own eventually. Dehumanizing rhetoric spreads unchecked through online spaces, establishing cultural permission for discrimination. The movement will inevitably expand beyond current targets, identifying fresh subjects for its pseudoscientific analysis.
Challenging misinformation requires sustained effort from democratic institutions and civil society organizations. Supporting targeted communities demands material resources and policy interventions. Protecting democratic values necessitates confronting conspiracy thinking directly. The alternative: allowing conspiracy movements to expand unchecked. This threatens foundational democratic norms and institutional stability itself.