The military’s top uniformed officer suggested Wednesday he does not support drag shows being hosted on military bases, something that has been done for years to boost morale and show support for LGBTQ members of the military community but which has come under attack by Republicans as part of their war on “wokeness.”
During a House Armed Services Committee hearing Wednesday, conservative firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., grilled Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley on several recent drag events that have become extensively discussed in conservative media, including a planned “Drag Queen Storytime” that Ramstein Air Base, Germany, canceled last year after GOP criticism.
“I’d like to take a look at those myself and find out what actually is going on there because that’s the first I’m hearing about that kind of stuff,” Milley said after Gaetz read several headlines from conservative outlets about the drag events. “I’d like to take a look at those because I don’t agree with those. I think those things shouldn’t be happening.”
A spokesperson for Milley told Military.com after the hearing that the general was expressing opposition to the use of taxpayer funding for non-military activities on military bases. . . .
. . . . . In the U.S. military, the first on-base drag show is believed to have been held at Kadena Air Base, Japan, in 2014.
While military officials have sometimes given in to criticism of the events, such as the canceled storytime at Ramstein last year, they have also defended hosting drag shows to boost morale and acceptance.
“Ensuring our ranks reflect and are inclusive of the American people is essential to the morale, cohesion and readiness of the military,” a Nellis Air Base base spokesman told Yahoo News in 2021. “Nellis Air Force Base is committed to providing and championing an environment that is characterized by equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion.” . . . (read more on Military.com)
Nellis Air Force Base Hosts First-Ever Drag Queen Show: ‘Essential to the Morale, Readiness’ (Breitbart, 21 JUN 21)
Nellis Air Force Base spokesman Lt. Col. Bryon McGarry said in an email statement to Breitbart News: “Nellis Air Force Base and the 99th Air Base Wing hosted its first-ever drag show Thursday, June 17, at the Nellis Club. The event was sponsored by a private organization and provided an opportunity for attendees to learn more about the history and significance of drag performance art within the LGBT+ community. Ensuring our ranks reflect and are inclusive of the American people is essential to the morale, cohesion, and readiness of the military. Nellis Air Force Base is committed to providing and championing an environment that is characterized by equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion.”
Kayleigh McEnany slams drag shows on military bases: China, Russia ‘laughing at us’
‘Outnumbered’ hosts react to Pentagon officials being questioned during a congressional hearing over drag shows hosted on U.S. military bases.
GOP rep stumps top military leaders with question on base drag shows: ‘First I’m hearing about that’ (Fox News, 30 MAR 23)
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley were seemingly stumped by questioning from Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who questioned the top military leaders about drag shows on military bases, during a House Armed Services Committee hearing.
“I’d like to take a look at those myself and find out what actually is going on there because that’s the first I’m hearing about that kind of stuff,” Milley said Wednesday in response to Gaetz after the GOP lawmaker read several headlines about drag shows on military installations, according to Military.com. “I’d like to take a look at those, because I don’t agree with those. I think those things shouldn’t be happening.”
Drag shows on military installations, which promoters say are designed to show support for LGBTQ service members, have increasingly made headlines, most recently in the case of a planned “Drag Queen Storytime” that was scheduled at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, but canceled amid GOP criticism of the event.
A spokesperson for Milley later told Military.com that Milley does not support taxpayer-funded drag shows on military installations, although most drag shows on military bases have been funded by private organizations.
Meanwhile, Austin made clear that drag shows on bases do not receive Pentagon funding. “Drag queen story hours is not something that the department funds,” Austin said during the hearing. . . . (read more)
Leave a Comment