Michele Morrow, the Republican nominee for North Carolina's superintendent of public instruction, has faced intense backlash after falsely claiming that the '+' in LGBTQ+ signifies support for pedophilia. Her comments were made in a social media post targeting her opponent, Mo Green, who is endorsed by the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality North Carolina. Green and various advocacy organizations condemned Morrow's statement as inflammatory and baseless, emphasizing that the '+' symbolizes inclusivity for diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Critics argue that such rhetoric is part of a broader anti-LGBTQ+ narrative that misrepresents and stigmatizes the community. Morrow's campaign, which focuses on parental rights and student safety, has been marked by her controversial views and past extremist affiliations. This incident reflects ongoing tensions surrounding LGBTQ+ issues in education and politics in North Carolina.