Research ArticleOpen accessIn the keywordsA Semiotic Analysis of Anti-LGBTQ + Politically Motivated Hate SpeechPaul James PopeHate speech is speech that targets vulnerable minority people and groups, intended to denigrate their identity. Although hate speech has persisted for generations, its use against LGBTQ+ citizens has increased significantly since the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Hate speech is distinct from other critical rhetoric as it is both socially and politically motivated speech meant to marginalize and/or promote discrimination … …Journal of Social Sciences, Vol. 22, Issue 1 · 20 Apr 2026 · 1,842 accessesView PDFCite