Lesbian farmer invasion? It's Rush Limbaugh's latest conspiracy theory

The USDA has been holding Rural Pride seminars aimed at LGBT farmers. Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh sees a government plot to overrun rural America. The USDA has been holding Rural Pride seminars aimed at LGBT farmers. Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh sees a government plot to overrun rural America. Photo: Jessica Hill, FRE Photo: Jessica Hill, FRE Image 1 of / 44 Caption Close Lesbian farmer invasion? It's Rush Limbaugh's latest conspiracy theory 1 / 44 Back to Gallery

First, right wing talkmeister Rush Limbaugh warned, President Obama was after your guns (an alleged plot that didn't work so well). Then, he was going to impose martial law through military exercises taking place in Texas (another scheme that didn't work out).

Now, Limbaugh says, Obama wants to turn farms over to ... lesbian farmers. That's right. The latest conspiracy theory on the far right is the government's plan to promote lesbian farmers through the "Rural Pride" program.

Is he afraid the corn won't grow straight? No. Limbaugh, according to a transcript of his Aug. 17 show, considers it a plot to blow up a segment of America that traditionally votes Republican.

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"Okay, go ahead and laugh at it, but I'm telling you what they're doing. They are trying to bust up one of the last geographically conservative regions in the country; that's rural America," Limbaugh said.

What makes this truly odd is, the "Rural Pride" program is a real thing. The U.S. Agriculture Department has, under Obama's administration, sought to make LGBT farmers feel more comfortable and educate gay farmers about loans, housing assistance and how to deal with bullying.

The Williams Institute, which studies sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy out of the UCLA Law School, found that almost 10 percent of all same-sex couples in the country live in rural America and such couples are actually more likely to be families of color and raising children. (There are no solid numbers available on Texas.)

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The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force also issued a report finding that these couples are more likely to be low-income and are almost twice as likely to receive public assistance. The transgender community is particularly vulnerable.

The Ag Department has held Rural Pride seminars around the country -- most recently in Iowa -- to discuss challenges faced by LGBT farmers. None of the materials associated with the program talk of money to give away to prospective gay farmers.

Other federal departments have held similar events, including a Small Business Administration gathering in Houston in February.

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To Limbaugh, though, it's just a matter of seeing what's behind the free range lesbian program -- a liberal assault on America's farmers (an alleged plot the efficacy of which has yet to be determined).

"But I, El Rushbo, am able to read the stitches on the fastball and clearly see what this is about," Limbaugh said.