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Ryan T. Anderson

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Ryan T. Anderson
Anderson in 2023
Born
Ryan Thomas Anderson

1981 (age 43–44)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Education
Princeton University (AB)
Known forOpposition to the legal availability of abortion in the United States as well as LGBT rights in the United States, including the legal recognition of same-sex marriage in the United States, legislative bills and judicial rulings that ban discrimination against LGBT people in the United States, and laws that ban the practice of conversion therapy on children in the United States
Notable work
What Is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense
TitlePresident of the Ethics and Public Policy Center
MovementReligious conservatism

Ryan Thomas Anderson[1] (born 1981)[2] is an American religious conservative political commentator who is primarily known for his opposition to the legal availability of abortion in the United States as well as LGBT rights in the United States, including the legal recognition of same-sex marriage in the United States, legislative bills and judicial rulings that ban discrimination against LGBT people in the United States, and laws that ban the practice of conversion therapy on children in the United States.[3][4][5]

Anderson is currently president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a teaching fellow at the University of Dallas.[6]

Early life and education

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Anderson was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1981.[2] He is the second youngest of five sons.[3] He attended Princeton University where he received his B.A. degree in music.[3] He later attended the University of Notre Dame where he earned a Ph.D. in political philosophy.[7] His dissertation, completed in 2014, was entitled Neither Liberal Nor Libertarian: A Natural Law Approach to Social Justice and Economic Rights and it was advised by University of Notre Dame professor Michael Zuckert.[7][2]

Career

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Anderson is currently president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a teaching fellow at the University of Dallas.[6]

Previously, he was a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation,[8] the founder and editor-in-chief of Public Discourse, the online journal of the Witherspoon Institute,[9] an adjunct professor of philosophy and political science at Christendom College,[7] a research fellow at the Veritas Center at Franciscan University,[7] and an assistant editor for First Things.[7]

Views

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Homosexuality

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In 2003, Anderson wrote an article for The Daily Princetonian comparing what he called homosexual "characteristics" and homosexual "acts" to "alcoholism" and "the crimes of a pedophiliac priest" in arguing for his religious belief about homosexuality.[10][4][5] In 2020, Anderson co-wrote an article with his mentor Robert P. George that criticized Pope Francis for his support for civil unions for same-sex couples. In the article, Anderson and George labelled what they called homosexual "inclinations" as "disordered" in arguing for their religious belief about homosexuality.[11][4][5] The religious belief of Anderson and George is contrary to the scientific consensus that homosexuality is a positive and normal variation of human sexual orientation.[12]

Conversion therapy

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In 2007, Anderson wrote an article for First Things about his friend in which he speculated about his "problem" of same-sex attraction, said that his friend "suffers" same-sex attraction, mused about a "cure" for homosexuality, and labelled homosexuality as a "disorder".[13][4][5] In 2012, Anderson wrote an article in which he promoted an article about advocates for a "cure" for homosexuality who fought against laws that ban the practice of conversion therapy on children.[14][4][5] In 2019, Anderson voiced his opposition to a state law in Massachusetts that bans the practice of conversion therapy on children.[15][16][4][5] The advocacy by Anderson is contrary to the scientific consensus that homosexuality is a positive and normal variation of human sexual orientation and that conversion therapy is a discredited, harmful, and pseudoscientific practice.[12][17]

Same-sex marriage

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In 2010, Anderson co-authored and published the article "What is Marriage?" in the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy with Sherif Girgis and his mentor Robert P. George.[18] The article was later published in 2012 under the name What Is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense by Encounter Books.[19] In the article and book, Anderson, George, and Girgis argued their opinion that the defining feature of marriage is reproduction and therefore same-sex marriage should be considered a contradiction of their definition, and, accordingly, to preserve the benefits of what they called "true" marriage, same-sex marriage should not be recognized by law. Samuel Alito referenced the book in his dissenting opinion in the landmark decision by the Supreme Court of the United States in United States v. Windsor, which led to the federal legal recognition of same-sex marriage in the United States.[3][20] In 2015, Anderson wrote an article in opposition to the landmark decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in Obergefell v. Hodges, which led to the nationwide legal recognition of same-sex marriage in the United States.[21] In 2017, Anderson co-wrote the book Debating Religious Liberty and Discrimination with John Corvino and Sherif Girgis. The book received positive reviews for what was viewed by critics as its constructive back-and-forth discussion on freedom of religion and anti-discrimination law.[22][23]

LGBT rights

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In 2020, Anderson wrote an article in opposition to the landmark decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in Bostock v. Clayton County, which led to the legal recognition of sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in the Civil Rights Act of 1964.[24] In 2021, Anderson wrote an article in opposition to the Equality Act, which is a bill in the United States Congress that would ban discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in federal law.[25]

Transgender rights

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In 2018, Anderson wrote the book When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment.[26][27][28] The book, critical of what Anderson labelled as "gender ideology" or "transgender ideology" and heavily influenced by the works of Paul R. McHugh, came under scrutiny after it topped the Amazon bestsellers list in the Gay & Lesbian Civil Rights History category.[29] In 2021, Anderson's book was removed by Amazon from its website.[30] Amazon wrote a letter on March 11, 2021, addressed to Republican Senators Marco Rubio, Mike Lee, Mike Braun, and Josh Hawley explaining its decision, saying it would not sell books that framed LGBTQ+ identity as a "mental illness".[31] Anderson denied that his book described transgender people as "mentally ill".[32] Amazon reverted to selling Anderson's book on February 5, 2025.[33]

Abortion

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In 2022, in anticipation of the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, Anderson co-authored the book Tearing Us Apart: How Abortion Harms Everything and Solves Nothing with Alexandra DeSanctis.[34][35] The book aims to disarm arguments in favor of abortion and chart a path forward for the United States anti-abortion movement.

Personal life

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Anderson is a practicing Catholic.[36]

Books

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Author

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  • Truth Overruled: The Future of Marriage and Religious Freedom (2015) ISBN 978-1-62157-451-4
  • When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment (2019) ISBN 978-1-64177-048-4

Co-Author

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  • With Robert P. George and Sherif Girgis - What is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense (2012) ISBN 978-1-59403-622-4
  • With Sherif Girgis and John Corvino - Debating Religious Liberty and Discrimination (2017) ISBN 978-0-19-060307-6
  • With Alexandra DeSanctis - Tearing Us Apart: Why Abortion Harms Everything and Solves Nothing (2022) ISBN 978-1-68451-423-6

Co-Editor

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Articles

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  • "Disagreement Is Not Always Discrimination: On Masterpiece Cakeshop and the Analogy to Interracial Marriage." Georgetown Journal of Law & Public Policy 16, No. 1 (2018): 123–45.

References

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  1. ^ "O nowej teorii prawa naturalnego, małżeństwie i wolności religii" (in Polish). Central and Eastern European Online Library. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Anderson, Ryan T. (2014). Neither liberal nor libertarian: a natural law approach to social justice and economic rights (Ph.D.). University of Notre Dame.
  3. ^ a b c d Barnes, Robert (April 15, 2015). "The right finds a fresh voice on same-sex marriage". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Ryan T. Anderson". GLAAD. July 15, 2013. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Rachel Percelay (June 17, 2015). "Meet Ryan Anderson, The Anti-LGBT 'Scholar' Peddling Junk Science To National Media". Media Matters for America. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Ryan T. Anderson". Ethics and Public Policy Center. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Ryan T. Anderson, Author at Ethics & Public Policy Center". Ethics & Public Policy Center. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  8. ^ Fitzsimons, Tim (January 29, 2019). "Conservative group hosts anti-transgender panel of feminists 'from the left'". NBC News. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  9. ^ "Masthead". Public Discourse. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  10. ^ Ryan Anderson (November 5, 2003). "Catholic teaching on sexuality asks the same of everyone". The Daily Princetonian. Archived from the original on March 22, 2006. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  11. ^ Ryan T. Anderson and Robert P. George (October 27, 2020). "Pope Francis, Civil Unions, and Moral Truth". Public Discourse. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Resolution on Appropriate Affirmative Responses to Sexual Orientation Distress and Change Efforts". American Psychological Association.
  13. ^ Ryan T. Anderson (February 2007). "Struggling Alone". First Things. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  14. ^ Ryan T. Anderson (November 1, 2012). "The New York Times, Same-Sex Attraction, and Struggling Alone". First Things. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  15. ^ Christine Rousselle (April 11, 2019). "Mass. bans therapists from efforts to change minors' orientation or gender identity". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  16. ^ "AMA supports federal ban on 'conversion therapy'". Catholic News Agency. November 25, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  17. ^ Jen Christensen (March 7, 2022). "Conversion therapy is harmful to LGBTQ people and costs society as a whole, study says". CNN.
  18. ^ Girgis, Sherif and George, Robert and Anderson, Ryan T., What is Marriage? (November 23, 2012). Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 245-287, Winter 2010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1722155
  19. ^ Worsnip, Alex (January 30, 2013). "Arguing against gay marriage". Prospect. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  20. ^ United States v. Windsor, 570 (U.S. 2013).
  21. ^ Ryan T. Anderson (July 1, 2015). "Marriage and the Constitution: What the Court Said and Why It Got It Wrong". Public Discourse. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  22. ^ Picciotti-Bayer, Andrea (July 18, 2017). "Religious Liberty vs. Anti-Discrimination: Toward a 'Political Settlement'". National Review. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  23. ^ Vischer, Robert K. "Agreeing on How to Disagree". Commonweal. No. September 20, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  24. ^ Ryan T. Anderson (June 16, 2020). "The Supreme Court's Mistaken and Misguided Sex Discrimination Ruling". Public Discourse. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  25. ^ Anderson, Ryan (February 21, 2021). "Biden's Equality Act is a danger to women's and conscience rights". New York Post. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  26. ^ Anderson, Ryan (2018). When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment. Encounter. p. 264. ISBN 9781641770484.
  27. ^ Greenesmith, Heron (June 17, 2020). "Non-Affirming Therapists Endanger Trans Youth". Teen Vogue. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  28. ^ Lu, Rachel (July 29, 2018). "The Assault on Reality". National Review. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  29. ^ Eunjung Cha, Ariana (February 2, 2018). "Ryan Anderson's book on transgender people is creating an uproar". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  30. ^ Fung, Katherine (February 22, 2021). "Best-Selling Controversial Book on Transgender People Removed From Amazon 3 Years After Publication". Newsweek. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  31. ^ Trachtenberg, Jeffrey (March 11, 2021). "Amazon won't sell books framing LGBTQ+ identities as mental illnesses". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  32. ^ Gstalter, Morgan (March 12, 2021). "Amazon removing books that frame LGBTQ issues as mental illness". The Hill.
  33. ^ "Amazon Lifts Ban on Ryan Anderson". Ethics and Public Policy Center. February 5, 2025.
  34. ^ "Tearing Us Apart: How Abortion Harms Everything and Solves Nothing". Regenery Publishing. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  35. ^ "Tearing Us Apart: How Abortion Harms Everything and Solves Nothing". National Review. January 17, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  36. ^ "Franciscan University Welcomes Catholic Scholar, Ryan T. Anderson, PhD, as Visiting Fellow at the Veritas Center for Ethics in Public Life". Franciscan University of Steubenville. September 13, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
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