Two teenagers accused of killing three people at the Islamic Center of San Diego have been falsely linked to claims that they were transgender and dating. PolitiFact reported no evidence that the suspects, 17-year-old Cain Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Vazquez, were trans or dating. A Christian nationalist figure made claims about transgender orientation and indoctrination without explaining any sources. An X account asserted the shooters identified as a transgender couple, but offered no evidence beyond a self-created headline image. Another X user claimed police were refusing to name the suspects due to a “trans couple,” also without proof. San Diego police later identified both suspects by name.
"Right-wingers are falsely claiming that the two teenagers accused of lethally shooting three people at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, May 18 are transgender and dating. There is absolutely no evidence that the suspects - 17-year-old Cain Clark or 18-year-old Caleb Vazquez - are either trans or dating, PolitiFact reported."
"Most notably, anti-LGBTQ+ Christian Nationalist David Barton told the Christian broadcast show Victory News yesterday, "There are also reports now that [the shooters] were transgender oriented and indoctrinated, and that's a rejection of basic morality when you get to that point. So it's not surprising that we're seeing more and more of that group and that cadre and that profile engaged in active radical things.""
"However, one X account, @amuse, wrote that the shooters "identified as a transgender couple by classmates." The account, which regularly spreads untrue statements, provided no source or evidence for its claim beyond a self-created image of a headline from the non-existent publication, AmuseXpress. The image included photos of two androgynous athletes holding medals."
"Despite Sortor's claims, San Diego police identified both suspects by name on May 19."
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