CitizenGo

[[File:CitizenGO.jpg|thumb|right|165px|CitizenGo logo]]
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'''CitizenGo''', sometimes '''CitizenGO''', is an international [[Roman Catholic]] campaigning organisation, founded in [[Spain]] in 2013 by Ignacio Arsuaga from an earlier Spanish organisation called HazteOir. Active in [[Europe]], [[North America]], and [[South America]], CitizenGo promotes various socially [[conservative]] causes, and in particular opposes [[LGBT rights]] and [[abortion]].<ref name=byline/><ref name=opendemocracy2019/>

It reportedly modeled itself on liberal campaigning groups [[MoveOn.org]], Change.org, and similar groups, which sought to mobilise people online with petitions and other campaigning: hence its focus is primarily online.<ref name=opendemocracy2017/> However, there have been some real-world stunts organised by CitizenGo, including displaying [[homophobic]] and [[transphobic]] messages on buses and planes.<ref name=equityfwd>[https://equityfwd.org/citizengo CitizenGo], Equity Forward, accessed October 10, 2022</ref> Its pronouncements include the bizarre claim that "homosexual activists have played a integral role in the rise of [[fascist]] politics, including [[Nazism#Gay Nazis?|Nazism]]".<ref name=glaad2013>[https://www.glaad.org/blog/brian-brown-extends-his-anti-lgbt-activism-across-globe Brian Brown extends his anti-LGBT activism across the globe], GLAAD, Jan 14, 2014</ref>

In the UK it has become known for the actions of its campaign director Caroline Farrow, who has received media coverage for homophobic and transphobic [[troll]]ing, as well as attention from the [[police]].<ref name=pinknews02221005/><ref name=vicefarrow/>

==Around the world==
===Spain===
In [[Spain]] it is closely linked to the [[extremist]], ultra-[[nationalist]] party [[Spain#Political parties|Vox]], which campaigns against immigrants and opposes regional autonomy. It is also closely linked to another Spanish organisation HazteOir, founded in 2001; HazteOir had its charitable status removed due to anti-trans comments.<ref name=opendemocracy2019>[https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/revealed-the-trump-linked-super-pac-working-behind-the-scenes-to-drive-europes-voters-to-the-far-right/ Revealed: the Trump-linked ‘Super PAC’ working behind the scenes to drive Europe’s voters to the far Right], Open Democracy, 25 April 2019</ref>

In 2017, it campaigned against a law to ban [[discrimination]] based on [[sexual orientation]], with stunts including flying the "hate plane", a bright orange plane emblazoned with slogans such as "They are coming for your children", across Spain. It also drove a transphobic bus around Spain painted with slogans like "boys have penises, girls have vulvas, don’t be fooled"<ref name=opendemocracy2017>[https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/the-rise-of-citizengo/ "They are coming for your children" - The Rise of CitizenGo], Open Democracy, 9 August 2017</ref><ref name=equityfwd/>

It has also been linked to El Yunque, an alleged Catholic [[secret society]] operating in [[Mexico]] and Spain that press reports have claimed is closely connected to HazteOir.<ref name=opendemocracy2017/><ref>{{wpa|El Yunque (organization)}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110711132953/http://guadalajarareporter.com/features-mainmenu-95/908-features/188-the-secret-society-that-wont-go-away.html The Secret Society That Won't Go Away], Guadalajara Reporter, June 29, 2007</ref> Based on the information that exists about El Yunque, it is an [[antisemitic]] group that bars people of [[Jewish]] ancestry from membership regardless of religious belief. Members are required to follow orders from the group without question, and ''[[The Protocols of the Elders of Zion]]'' is obligatory reading.<ref>Julianna Neuhouser (Julianna Neuhouser). [https://transsafety.network/posts/god-fatherland-and-faith-citizengo/ "For God, Fatherland and the Faith: CitizenGo, HazteOír and the Yunque]. ''Trans Safety Network''.</ref>

===United Kingdom===
Actions in the [[UK]] include a February 2021 campaign against an [[Advertising|advert]] for Cadbury's Creme Eggs featuring a gay kiss; the chocolate company said to "showcase the joy our products bring, a clip of a real-life couple sharing a Cadbury Creme Egg was included in the advert" but CitizenGo objected to them ramming 
chocolate
 homosexuality down people's throats.<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cadbury-gay-kiss/ Did Same-Sex Kiss in Cadbury Ad Spark Angry Petition?], Snopes, 20 Feb 2021</ref>

====Caroline Farrow====
In the UK, CitizenGo's campaign director is Caroline Farrow, a self-styled journalist and a prominent campaigner against [[LGBT rights|trans rights and gay rights]]. Farrow has stated that she "[[Antifeminism|rejects the idea of feminism]] outright", and she is part of the transphobic circle around author [[J.K. Rowling]].<ref name=vicefarrow/> Farrow complained on [[Twitter]] about London Zoo promoting its [[Homosexuality#In nature|gay penguins]], calling it "confrontational [[propaganda]]".<ref>[https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/07/03/children-not-emotionally-ready-deviant-gay-penguins-journalist/ Catholic journalist Caroline Farrow caused a Twitter storm last week over her opposition to the stars of London Zoo’s Pride celebrations — gay penguins.], Pink News, 3 July 2019</ref> Farrow also appeared on [[TalkTV]] in the UK in 2022, complaining about [[Same-sex marriage|gay men adopting babies]], and she objects to surrogacy in general.<ref>[https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/09/04/caroline-farrow-gay-same-sex-parents-jeremy-kyle-piers-morgan/ Caroline Farrow thinks ‘entitled’ gay parents are ‘removing’ babies from mothers], Pink News, 4 September 2022</ref>

On 3 October 2022 Farrow was arrested for malicious communications and harassment against trans activist Stephanie Hayden, after allegedly [[doxxing]] Hayden on Twitter and [[Kiwi Farms]] (although Farrow claimed she was playing a church organ at the time).<ref name=vicefarrow/><ref name=pinknews02221005>[https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/05/caroline-farrow-arrest-kiwi-farms-trans/ Anti-LGBTQ+ activist Caroline Farrow rages against trans people as she’s being arrested], PinkNews, 5 October 2022</ref> Farrow promptly went on Mark Steyn's show on right-wing channel [[GB News]] to defend herself, and the following day police informed Hayden of a credible arson threat against Hayden, possibly linked to Farrow's media appearances.<ref name=vicefarrow/> Farrow is a keen user of hate site Kiwi Farms, which is known for [[bullying]] and doxxing people and even driving them to [[suicide]]; on Kiwi Farms she is called "Bulwark of the Catholic Church in the UK".<ref name=vicefarrow>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/7k87vq/caroline-farrow-arrested-kiwi-farms J.K. Rowling Ally Arrested for Allegedly Doxing a Trans Activist], Vice News, 6 October 2022</ref> CitizenGo nonetheless launched one of its campaigns to defend Farrow.<ref>[https://twitter.com/CitizenGO/status/1579449131445415938 Sign 🖊 the Petition to Help Defend Caroline Farrow: https://bit.ly/PetitionForCaroline CitizenGO’s  @CF_Farrow  Caroline Farrow 🇬🇧 was arrested last week under false, unfounded and unwarranted accusations. She needs all of our support now, more than ever. #Liberty #UK #Justice], CitizenGO, Twitter, Oct 10, 2022</ref>

===United States===
CitizenGo has also launched various anti-LGBT+ campaigns in the [[United States]]. This included calling for a [[boycott]] of insurance company State Farm, forcing it to drop its support for an inclusive reading program; CitizenGo accused them of "aggressive and predatory behavior" and efforts "to try and make children gay".<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-24/state-farm-drops-support-for-lgbtq-reading-program-gendercool State Farm Drops Support for LGBTQ Reading Program GenderCool], Bloomberg, May 24, 2022</ref><ref>[https://www.citizengo.org/en-us/fm/207979-state-farm-pushing-gender-ideology-5-year-olds State Farm pushing Gender Ideology on 5-year-olds!], CitizenGo website, May 31, 2022</ref> However it's not clear how much of its campaigning success is actually due to CitizenGo rather than other [[right-wing]] entities such as [[Fox News]] which often push similar stories.

Other anti-LGBT campaigns included a petition that claimed that "[[cisgender]] men" are banned from the US armed forces.<ref>[https://www.citizengo.org/en-us/ot/209121-stop-woke-military-banning-cisgender-men-and-enforcing-gender-ideology Stop Woke Military From Banning "Cisgender Men" and Enforcing Gender Ideology!], CitizenGo, September 23, 2022</ref> And they campaigned against LGBT characters in Netflix and [[Disney]] programming.<ref>[https://www.citizengo.org/en-us/node/208813 Netflix: #StopIndoctrination], CitizenGo, August 17, 2022</ref><ref>[https://www.citizengo.org/en-us/ed/208371-disney-my-family-wont-watch-your-lgbtq-films Disney: My family won’t watch your LGBTQ+ films], CitizenGo, June 30, 2022</ref>

One campaign opposed the [[FBI]] and [[Facebook]] for allegedly spying on and victimizing conservatives.<ref>[https://www.citizengo.org/en-us/ot/209167-stop-facebook-spying-conservatives-fbi Stop Facebook from spying on Conservatives for the FBI!], CitizenGo, September 29, 2022</ref> They bizarrely claimed that [[Joe Biden]] was forcing all immigrants entering the USA to have [[abortion]]s — the reality is that immigration authorities have taken steps to preserve access to abortion for pregnant minors being looked after by the Office of Refugee Resettlement.<ref>[https://www.citizengo.org/en-us/lf/208558-biden-instructs-ice-border-control-perform-abortions-immigrants-sign-save-these-babies Biden instructs ICE border control to perform abortions on immigrants! Sign to save these babies!], CitizenGo, July 19, 2022</ref><ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/21/politics/abortion-minors-migrants/index.html Biden administration looks to protect abortion rights of migrant minors following Dobbs ruling], CNN, July 21, 2022</ref>

===Mexico===
CitizenGo has also campaigned in [[Mexico]], including supporting an [[anti-abortion]] march.<ref name=opendemocracy2017/>

===Ireland===
CitizenGo was involved in [[Ireland]] [[lobbying]] against the [[Pro-choice|legalisation of abortion]], collecting a petition and funding advertisements on social media, and after a referendum allowed abortion, it began supporting "conscientious objector" doctors who wanted to refuse to give abortions.<ref>[https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30929727.html Special Report - Far right in Ireland: ‘Dark money’ and the price of democracy], Irish Examiner, June 10, 2019</ref>

===Russia===
CitizenGo declared its support for [[Vladimir Putin]]'s anti-gay laws in 2013.<ref name=glaad2013/>

===Kenya===
CitizenGo petitioned against the decriminalization of abortion and homosexuality in Kenya in 2019, then later celebrated the continued criminalization in 2020. <ref> https://web.archive.org/web/20200212174936/http://hazteoir.org/noticia/93168-over-3000-signatures-were-delivered-office-attorney-general-demanding-he-defends-life</ref> According to the Mozilla Foundation, CitizenGo has been a key contributor to misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric in African internet communities, especially in Kenya.<ref>Odanga Madung ''et al.'' [https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/campaigns/exporting-disinformation-how-foreign-groups-peddle-influence-in-kenya-through-twitter/ "Exporting Disinformation: How Foreign Groups Peddle Influence in Kenya through Twitter"]. Mozilla Foundation.</ref>

==Trustees and funders==
[[File:Ignacio Arsuaga, presidente de HazteOir.org (2).jpg|thumb|right|165px|Arsuaga in 2014]]
It was founded by Ignacio Arsuaga, with the mission statement: "CitizenGO will produce a social benefit that we trust will impact human history. Abortionists, the homosexual lobby, radical [[secularist]]s, and champions of relativism will find themselves behind CitizenGO’s containment wall".<ref name=byline>[https://bylinetimes.com/2021/06/21/the-money-men-behind-citizengos-anti-rights-agenda/ The Money Men Behind CitizenGO's Anti-Gender Agenda], Sian Norris, Byline Times, June 21, 2021</ref>

Its trustees have included Alexey Komov, who is closely linked to the Russian [[oligarch]] and [[monarchist]] campaigner {{wpl|Konstantin Malofeev||;}} Brian Brown of the American group World Congress of Families (at whose congresses speakers have included [[Viktor Orbán]] and [[Political parties of Italy|Matteo Salvini]]); Gualberto Garcia Jones, of far-right anti-gay organisation LifeSite and allegedly the Human Rights Advisor for the Permanent Observer Mission of the [[Vatican|Holy See]] to the Organisation of American States; and {{wpl|Luca Volontè||,}} a former Italian politician.<ref name=byline/><ref>[https://thepinktriangletrust.com/anti-abortion-extremist-calls-for-disney-boycott-over-lesbian-cartoon-character/ Gualberto Garcia Jones launches a petition against "Onward" animated movie], Pink Triangle Trust</ref> Volontè was jailed in January 2021 for corruption after funnelling bribes from [[Azerbaijan]]i politicians into a foundation that supported CitizenGo, Dignitatis Humanae Institute, Irish Catholic advocacy group the Iona Institute, and other similar lobbying groups.<ref name=byline/> Patrick Slim, son of the Mexican billionaire {{wpl|Carlos Slim}}, has also reportedly donated; as has José Luis Bonet, boss of the Freixenet wine company, whose bottles look like sex toys.<ref name=byline/>

Gay rights organisation GLAAD has claimed that CitizenGo worked closely with Brian Brown's organizations including [[National Organization for Marriage]] in campaigning against gay people in the US and around the world.<ref name=glaad2013/>

Donors to parent organisation HazteOir included David Álvarez, founder of business services company Eulen; Isidoro Álvarez, owner of department store group El Corte Inglés; and Esther Koplowitz, 7th Marchioness of Casa Peñalver.<ref name=byline/><ref> [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/20/business/international/a-family-feud-uncorked-in-spain.htmlA Family Feud, Uncorked in Spain], New York Times, July 19, 2014</ref>

==External links==
* [https://www.citizengo.org/ CitizenGO's website]
* {{wpa|CitizenGo}}
* [https://wikileaks.org/intolerancenetwork/tree/part-1/Fundaci%C3%B3n%20CitizenGO Wikileaks documents on HazteOir and CitizenGo]

==References==
{{Reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Anti-abortion activists]]
[[Category:Antifeminism]]
[[Category:Antisemites]]
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Homophobia]]
[[Category:Gender]]
[[Category:Spain]]
[[Category:Transphobia]]

Categories: Anti-abortion activists, Antifeminism, Antisemites, Christianity, Homophobia, Gender, Spain, Transphobia