Having followed his activism for over a decade now, I can say wit confidence that Mr. Kleinman is not a grifter, but a sad, strange little man who chose to devote his life to discrediting the ALA instead of getting therapy. His need for validation is so all-consuming that he will throw in his lot with anyone, anyone at all, be they blatant racists, fascists, homophobes, bullies, QAnon loonies, or utter morons, as long as they can give him a platform and/or acknowledge his 'expertise'. This is his drug, the only means by which he can convince himself that his work is important and meaningful enough to make alienating his entire family and all of his friends a tragic but necessary sacrifice and not evidence of his long slide into mental illness.
Having followed his activism for over a decade now, I can say wit confidence that Mr. Kleinman is not a grifter, but a sad, strange little man who chose to devote his life to discrediting the ALA instead of getting therapy. His need for validation is so all-consuming that he will throw in his lot with anyone, anyone at all, be they blatant racists, fascists, homophobes, bullies, QAnon loonies, or utter morons, as long as they can give him a platform and/or acknowledge his 'expertise'. This is his drug, the only means by which he can convince himself that his work is important and meaningful enough to make alienating his entire family and all of his friends a tragic but necessary sacrifice and not evidence of his long slide into mental illness.
I really didn't know much about him before now. I can see that you are probably right about him though. Thank you for sharing.