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Owen Benjamin vs. transgender people

Owen Benjamin is the stage name of Owen Troy-Smith, an American conspiracy theorist and anti-transgender activist.

Benjamin is part of the alt-right and intellectual dark web movements of anti-trans extremists.

Background

Owen Benjamin Kares Troy-Smith was born on May 24, 1980. Both parents are college professors. Troy-Smith earned a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2002, then began a career in stand-up comedy, branded as a conservative comedian.

Anti-transgender activism

After podcaster Jesse Thorn expressed support for their family’s trans child on Twitter, Troy-Smith and other anti-trans extremists like Jesse Singal decided to make inappropriate comments about this child.

Following additional attacks on trans healthcare for adolescents as well as posting standup clips mocking trans people, Troy-Smith’s talent agency cut ties.

Data & Society released a report demonstrating Troy-Smith’s connections within the alt-right network of YouTubers. Troy-Smith did collaborations with Stefan Molyneux, Lindsay Shepherd, Michael Malice, Erec Smith, Tim Pool, and Joe Rogan.

References

Berkowitz, Joe (December 3, 2018). Why is Amazon promoting this anti-trans alt right troll’s comedy special? Fast Company https://www.fastcompany.com/90275862/why-is-amazon-promoting-this-anti-trans-alt-right-trolls-comedy-special

Holt, Jared (November 29, 2018). Owen Benjamin: Transgender Rights Movement is a U.N.-Sponsored Eugenics Program. Right Wing Watch / People for the American Way http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/owen-benjamin-transgender-rights-movement-is-a-u-n-sponsored-eugenics-program/

Holt, Jared (December 13, 2019). Instagram and Facebook Suspend Right-Wing ‘Comedian’ Owen Benjamin. Right Wing Watch / People for the American Way https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/instagram-and-facebook-suspend-right-wing-comedian-owen-benjamin/

Center on Extremism (December 26, 2023). Owen Benjamin: What You Need to Know. ADL https://www.adl.org/resources/blog/owen-benjamin-what-you-need-know

Media

Owen Benjamin (May 2, 2018). Trans People Ruined Everything. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=telZ8Dc0i_M

Resources

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Owen Benjamin (owenbenjamin.com)

Huge Pianist (hugepianist.com) [archive]

Unauthorized TV (unauthorized.tv)

Facebook (facebook.com)

Twitter (twitter.com)

IMDb (imdb.com)