The connection between religious fundamentalism and the restriction of LGBTQ+ rights is nothing new. But in the Trump era, this alliance has reached a new and troubling dimension. Creationists – people who take the biblical creation story literally and reject scientific findings – have not only influenced education policy and climate protection, but have also made a major contribution to the erosion of gay rights.
Absurd claims, real power
The rhetoric of creationist groups against LGBTQ+ people is often so absurd that it could be mistaken for satire – if it weren’t so dangerous. Here are a few examples:
"Homosexuality is a choice, not a biological reality" – This claim is spread by creationist organizations such as the Discovery Institute and Answers in Genesis. It ignores decades of scientific research and serves as the basis for so-called "conversion therapies," which are still legal in many U.S. states.
What are conversion therapies? These pseudoscientific "treatments" are based on the assumption that homosexuality is an illness or disorder that can be "cured." In sessions, gay people are pressured through prayer, electric shocks, aversion therapy, or psychological pressure to "change" their sexual orientation. The consequences are devastating: depression, anxiety disorders, suicidal thoughts. Every reputable medical and psychological professional organization worldwide rejects conversion therapies as unscientific and harmful. Yet in the U.S., they remain legal in many states – often with support from creationist lobbying groups.
"Gay marriages destroy the natural order" – Ken Ham, founder of the Creation Museum in Kentucky, argues that marriage between a man and a woman is part of the divine order of creation. Same-sex marriages would undermine this order and are therefore "against nature." This argument has been taken up by conservative judges and politicians to fight equality.
"LGBTQ+ rights lead to the moral decay of society" – Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council (an influential creationist lobbying group), regularly claims that acceptance of homosexuality directly leads to pedophilia, incest, and the collapse of the family. Such statements are not only scientifically indefensible, but also deeply dehumanizing.
Resonance in the Trump administration
What makes these absurd claims so dangerous is their resonance in the highest circles of government. During the Trump presidency (2017–2021 and again from 2025), creationist positions were not only tolerated, but actively promoted:
Mike Pence, Trump’s vice president in his first term, is a professed creationist and supporter of conversion therapies. He actively pushed for laws that discriminate against LGBTQ+ people and blocked initiatives to protect queer youth.
Betsy DeVos, former Secretary of Education, comes from a family that financially supports creationist schools and anti-LGBTQ+ organizations. Under her leadership, protections for transgender students were rolled back.
Roger Severino, former director of the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services, previously worked for the Heritage Foundation, a think tank shaped by creationist ideas. He played a key role in dismantling anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in healthcare.
In Trump’s second term (from 2025), this development has continued. Creationist advisers have direct access to the White House, and bills restricting LGBTQ+ rights are being pushed at the federal level.
Concrete effects
The consequences of this policy are real and painful:
– Conversion therapies remain legal in many states, even though they have been proven to cause psychological harm.
– Adoption rights for same-sex couples have been restricted in several states, often with reference to "religious freedom."
– Transgender rights are being systematically rolled back – from bathroom bans to exclusion from the military.
– Textbooks in conservative states present homosexuality as a "lifestyle choice," not as part of human diversity.
Resistance and visibility
But there is also hope. The LGBTQ+ community and its allies are resisting – in the courts, on the streets, and in culture. Every gay couple holding hands in public, every Pride event, every work of art celebrating queer love is an act of resistance against this ideology of invisibility.
ARTWORK IMAGES makes gay art visible – not despite, but precisely because of these attacks. Because visibility is the antidote to hate and ignorance. When creationist fundamentalists try to push us back into the closet, we respond with color, passion, and pride.
The rollback of LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S. is no accident, but the result of a well-organized, financially strong movement that rejects science and tramples on human rights. Creationists have found willing partners in the Trump administration to carry out their agenda.
But history shows: progress cannot be stopped forever. Every generation must fight for its rights – and we will not stop until gay love, gay art, and gay lives are taken for granted everywhere.
Resistance in the Basquiat style. To our image
This blog post is part of our series on LGBTQ+ rights, art, and resistance. Discover our collection of gay art – every image a statement for visibility and self-determination.
