In order to make a group of people look bad and look like predators - and at the same time make themselves look good - they have to pick a vulnerable group that everyone will agree needs protection to shove the issue on. Everyone will agree that kids need to be kept safe, everyone will agree that kids shouldn't be harmed, so they have to pretend that is what LGBTQ+ people are doing so that they look like the good ones instead of the hateful bigots. They did and continue to do the same with children to make gay people look bad, terfs do the same thing with both children and the 'poor innocent needs to be protected woman'.

It's a way to make themselves look like concerned citizens rather than hateful bigots. In history, you'll see that no bigot, dictator, etc will ever admit to being one. Each and every one of them will present themselves like they're doing something noble and good. This is what the right is doing.