Flipflops Wokeism? Navy’s Instagram account and Twitter account removes Pride Month post.
The Navy’s official Instagram account and Twitter account has apparently taken down a post celebrating the start of Pride Month.
The service’s account on Thursday featured a post depicting a fighter jet with the LGBTQ+ flag colors in its wake, but by Friday morning (around 9.20am - 9.50am EDT) the image was gone.
(This image removed from US NAVY Instagram. Also: changed Twitter header by US NAVY)
US NAVY twitter header, around 10am EDT-1.21pm EDT (and maybe stay like this, no more PRIDE)
The move is the latest in a string of Pentagon efforts to shy away from culture wars, with top Defense officials earlier this week moving to ban drag performances on all military installations.
The US Navy spokesperson acknowledged the original post but would not say why or when it was removed.
“The US Navy posted graphics in support of the start of Pride month to honor the service, commitment, and sacrifice of the LGBTQ+ Service members and personnel who volunteer to defend our country,” they said in a statement.
“As we do with all Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) observance months, we will look for additional opportunities to celebrate the diversity and strength of our Sailors. Members of the LGBTQ+ community serve their country, fully contribute to the DoD mission, and deserve a welcoming environment which enables them to reach their full potential.”
The Navy in the past has faced blowback from its promotion of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, including last year, when service officials discussed how to post its graphic marking Pride over fears it would be flooded with “feedback from trolls and ugliness.”
In an email exchange, two Navy officials debated on whether to disable comments on social media posts to avoid vitriol.
The Navy has also received intense criticism from GOP lawmakers over enlisting a sailor who is also a drag queen to serve as a digital ambassador and help with recruiting.
In a wider Defense Department effort, drag performances have been banned on all military installations.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley stepped in to stop a drag show at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., scheduled for the start of Pride on Thursday.
The Air Force pointed to recent remarks from Austin to explain the decision, while the Pentagon painted to a longstanding policy in a statement to The Hill. However, that policy has not always been applied in the past, with Nellis having hosted drag shows in recent years.
In Louisiana, a bill stripping trans kids of their right to critical health care is back on track to being approved by the Louisiana Senate. Democrats apparently declined to even show up for a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee, so it passed without opposition. This comes just a week after another committee blocked the bill thanks to opposition from the Republican chairman. supporters of the bill went took extraordinary steps to get it to the floor. That’s how committed they are to their hate based agenda.
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