Is megyn Kelly homophobic?

Checked on February 1, 2026
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Executive summary

Megyn Kelly’s public record shows a consistent pattern of criticism and hostile commentary toward transgender people and certain LGBTQ+ institutions, paired with occasional defenses of gay individuals or gay cultural touchstones; this mix means calling her categorically “homophobic” oversimplifies reality, but her documented transphobia and repeated amplification of anti-LGBTQ voices are clear [1] [2] [3]. The evidence supports a firm conclusion that she has engaged in transphobic rhetoric and behavior; her stance toward cisgender gay people is more mixed and context-dependent [4] [5].

1. Past coverage and misgendering: concrete examples of anti-trans rhetoric

Multiple outlets document instances in which Kelly repeatedly misgendered a transgender child on air and questioned school decisions in ways critics called disparaging, and she has mocked or demeaned transgender people in televised segments, which outlets like GLAAD and Media Matters cite as examples of anti-trans rhetoric [1] [4]. Video and reporting also show Kelly promoting arguments that “trans issues” are a trend or that activists are overreaching, including on segments with conservative hosts where she questioned the “T” in LGBTQ+ organizations — framing that advocates and critics have labeled transphobic [2].

2. Amplifying anti-LGBTQ voices and groups

Reporting catalogs Kelly repeatedly hosting or platforming figures and organizations that are explicitly anti-LGBTQ, such as Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, and participating in events tied to groups like Moms for Liberty — associations critics view as aligned with anti-LGBTQ agendas [1]. Media amplification matters: critics argue that providing a mainstream microphone to such voices contributes to policy and cultural outcomes that harm LGBTQ people [1].

3. High-profile, inflammatory claims about medical care for trans youth

Kelly has repeatedly made strong claims about gender-affirming care for minors — saying children are being “sterilized” or that healthcare is a form of conversion therapy — statements that health advocates and professional medical organizations dispute and which have been widely reported and critiqued [1] [6]. Those remarks have inflamed debate because they attribute malicious intent or gross negligence to clinicians and families, a rhetorical pattern many LGBTQ advocates call fearmongering [6].

4. Evidence of nuance: moments defending gay people or criticizing extremists

Kelly’s record is not uniformly hostile toward all LGBTQ issues: she has publicly rebuked anti-gay-marriage activists on air and has featured gay cultural references positively (for example, defending viewers who appreciated Will & Grace and forcefully challenging an anti–gay marriage guest), which suggests selective distinctions in her stance between gay rights and transgender issues [5] [7]. Some commentators and outlets have described her as having a “mixed history” — implying evolution or inconsistency rather than simple bigotry [4].

5. Public self-reflection and claims of change

In 2024 Kelly published a piece acknowledging that she “was part of the problem” regarding past coverage of trans kids and framed her view as having evolved, which she and her team present as contrition and recalibration of her public stance [3]. Critics remain skeptical; supporters point to the admission as evidence she is not fixed in earlier positions, but reporting shows she continued to make strong anti-trans comments in later years, fueling disagreement about whether any change is substantive [3] [6].

6. Bottom line: what can and cannot be concluded from the record

The documented record supports a confident conclusion that Megyn Kelly has engaged in transphobic rhetoric and has repeatedly amplified anti-LGBTQ sources; whether she is “homophobic” toward gay and lesbian people is less clear-cut because she has also defended some gay-related cultural items and argued against certain anti-gay positions on air [1] [5]. Journalistic sources critical of her (GLAAD, Media Matters, Advocate) emphasize harm from her anti-trans commentary, while some mainstream outlets note moments of defense or nuance [1] [7]. Internal beliefs cannot be definitively known from public statements alone, but public actions and rhetoric provide strong evidence of transphobia and a partisan position on contemporary LGBTQ cultural battles [2] [6].

Want to dive deeper?
How have major LGBTQ advocacy groups (GLAAD, The Advocate) characterized Megyn Kelly’s coverage over time?
What is the difference between homophobia and transphobia in public discourse and how do journalists classify each?
Which public figures have publicly retracted or changed their views on transgender youth and how were those changes received?