Funding LGBTQ Hate: Meta Pays Right-Wing Hate Accounts on Facebook

Meta, the tech giant, is paying accounts ahead of the US midterm elections to spread organized anti-queer rhetoric and misinformation. This is shown by a joint investigation conducted by the U.S. research outlet Uncloseted Media and the nonprofit magazine The 19th. The report identifies at least 29 high-reach profiles with a history of queerphobic rhetoric that are part of Facebook Content Monetization, Meta’s exclusive program for creators.

The backdrop is that Republicans have made opposition to transgender people one of their central campaign themes. Donald Trump and his allies are currently running targeted ads against Democrats they label as too trans-friendly (Queer.de reported). There are even some absurd accusations: a Republican senator denounced in a Washington, D.C. floor speech transgender pilots, alleging they would wear animal costumes and endanger flight safety (Queer.de reported).

Among the paid accounts is “Libs of TikTok,” known for conducting targeted smear campaigns against Pride flags and queer teachers.

Also funded is Turning Point, the organization associated with the far-right figure Charlie Kirk, who recently drew attention for controversial statements, as well as the American influencer Candace Owens, who has long tried to smear Brigitte Macron, the wife of the French president, as transgender (Queer.de reported).

The System Behind the Click Payouts

Meta launched the monetization program in 2024 to boost activity on the aging Facebook network by paying creators directly. Payouts are largely based on engagement rates. Since anger and polarization reliably generate the most engagement, the algorithm effectively rewards hate with advertising dollars—high-reach profiles have reportedly earned five to six figures in monthly income from these programs.

Meta’s approach runs counter to the company’s own policies. Officially, monetization is restricted for content that presents social topics like sexual orientation or gender identity in a “polarizing or inflammatory” way. It also excludes disinformation from payout eligibility. However, Meta scrapped independent fact-checks last year, effectively removing external checks on monetized content.

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Pushback Against Meta’s Growing Anti-Democratic Tilt

The practice appears to target not only American audiences but also the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which went into effect in 2023. The DSA bans the spread of illegal content, hate speech, targeted disinformation, and discriminatory posts. The organization WTF has therefore filed a lawsuit against Meta, arguing that the company fails to fulfill its risk-reduction obligations when it financially supports EU-sanctioned and misinformation-spreading accounts.

Experts such as Courtney Radsch from the Center for Media and Digital Governance warn that Meta’s algorithmic and financial promotion of disinformation and hate campaigns is a deliberate undermining of democratic processes. There is also a strategic shift: the company has recently hired, among others, the queer-phobic activist Robby Starbuck, who has propagated conspiracy theories about pesticides supposedly making children gay.

Queer Groups Struggle Under Facebook Censorship

Facebook is making life harder for queer creators, too. While a few LGBTQ+ activists were recruited into bonus programs, many quickly pulled back because the algorithm flooded their feeds with hostile and hateful comments.

Queer organizations like GLAAD protest what they view as Meta’s glaring double standard: while far-right, queer-phobic haters often build reach unimpeded and even receive compensation, queer profiles are disproportionately sanctioned, throttled, or banned. Informational content on sexual health, HIV prevention, transition, or queer art is frequently misclassified by AI moderators as disallowed pornography or “sexual services.” Even ordinary lifestyle, relationship, or educational videos featuring trans and nonbinary people are often auto-labeled with age restrictions or removed.

That goes for queer groups that advocate traditional values as well. For instance, Querplattler, a gay Bavarian-style dance club based in Berlin, recently complained about censorship on Meta: “We regularly post about our events on Facebook and Instagram. About four weeks ago, Facebook told us our reach had been restricted for violating their guidelines,” the club said.