Ben Shapiro is a conservative American writer and anti-transgender activist.
Background
Benjamin Aaron “Ben” Shapiro was born January 15, 1984 in Los Angeles, California. His mother Cynthia Block Shapiro (born 1956) has worked as an executive coach, and his father David Jay Shapiro (born 1956) has been a writer and musician. David Shapiro has also written under the pseudonym “William Bigelow” and possibly “Hank Berrien,” often puff pieces praising hai son Ben.
Ben Shapiro studied classical violin as a child. He has a sister named Leah. His sister Abigail is a singer known as Classically Abby.
He used the online handle frumfiddle in college at UCLA, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 2004. Shapiro was hired by Creators Syndicate at 17 to become America’s youngest nationally syndicated columnist, and he published his first book in 2004.
He earned a law degree from Harvard in 2007. He worked at Goodwin Procter LLP before setting up Benjamin Shapiro Legal Consulting in Los Angeles.
Ben Shapiro married Israeli physician Mor Toledano Shapiro (born 1988) in 2008. They have four children.
In 2012, Shapiro became editor of Breitbart News, resigning in 2016. In 2012, Shapiro also began his work as a radio host.
In 2013, Shapiro and Jeremy Boreing co-founded conservative media watchdog TruthRevolt, which continued until 2018. In 2015, they founded Daily Wire and his podcast The Ben Shapiro Show. In 2020, Shapiro became editor emeritus of Daily Wire.
Shapiro frequently appears in the media and on campuses, usually making provocative statements in hopes of getting a response.
Anti-LGBTQ activism
Shapiro considers sex and gender minorities mentally ill and sinful. He does not think the should be able to marry or adopt.
Shapiro has said trans people should not be allowed to own guns, and he thinks transgender youth are caused by “social contagion” or “crap parenting.”
References
Harris, Dan (September 2017). Outspoken conservative Ben Shapiro says political correctness breeds insanity. Nightline https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/outspoken-conservative-ben-shapiro-political-correctness-breeds-insanity-50603406 [archive]
Harris, Dan; Torres, Ignacio; Effron, Lauren (October 21, 2017). Conservative commentator on future of free speech on campus. ABC News https://abcnews.go.com/US/outspoken-conservative-ben-shapiro-free-speech-place-college/story?id=50610394 [archive]
Goldstein, Sasha (July 15, 2015). Ben Shapiro files complaint against transgender reporter Tur. New York Daily News http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ben-shapiro-files-complaint-transgender-reporter-tur-article-1.2298804 [archive]
Walker, Lauren (July 21, 2015). Editor Ben Shapiro Files Police Report Against Transgender Reporter After Heated TV Exchange. Newsweek http://www.newsweek.com/conservative-editor-files-police-report-against-transgender-reporter-after-355851 [archive]
Tobin, Andrew (July 21, 2015). Jewish pundit, trans journalist in on-air spat. The Times of Israel http://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-pundit-trans-journalist-in-on-air-spat/ [archive]
Walker, Lauren (July 21, 2015). Editor Ben Shapiro Files Police Report Against Transgender Reporter After Heated TV Exchange. Newsweek. https://web.archive.org/web/20170318225103/http://www.newsweek.com/conservative-editor-files-police-report-against-transgender-reporter-after-355851 [archive]
Tavernise, Sabrina (November 23, 2017). Ben Shapiro, A Provocative ‘Gladiator,’ Battles to Win Young Conservatives. The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/23/us/ben-shapiro-conservative.html [archive]
Wilburn, Caroline (November 1, 2022). Ben Shapiro visits A&M, criticizes transgender community. The Battery https://www.thebatt.com/news/ben-shapiro-visits-a-m-criticizes-transgender-community/article_9340e138-5a5f-11ed-bd70-4b233c964e13.html
Henry, Vesper (March 22, 2023). Facts trump Ben Shapiro’s feelings on social contagion theory of trans identity. Media Matters for America https://www.mediamatters.org/ben-shapiro/facts-trump-ben-shapiros-feelings-social-contagion-theory-trans-identity
Staff report (March 7, 2023). Ben Shapiro accuses parents of trans children of “crap parenting.” Media Matters for America https://www.mediamatters.org/ben-shapiro/ben-shapiro-accuses-parents-trans-children-crap-parenting
Prieb, Natalie (April 13, 2022). Ben Shapiro gets into scrap with student at ‘Men Cannot Be Women’ event. The Hill https://thehill.com/homenews/3266482-ben-shapiro-gets-into-scrap-with-student-at-men-cannot-be-women-event/
Staff report (March 31, 2023). Ben Shapiro says trans people should be banned from owning firearms. Media Matters for America https://www.mediamatters.org/ben-shapiro/ben-shapiro-says-trans-people-should-be-banned-owning-firearms
Resources
Media Matters for America (mediamatters.org)
GLAAD Accountability Project (glaad.org/gap)
Daily Wire (dailywire.com)
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Twitter (twitter.com)
YouTube (youtube.com)
Instagram (instagram.com)
Facebook (facebook.com)