The US Navy has quietly taken down posts celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride month from its social media accounts, including rainbow banners that featured the word “Pride,” as enrolment in America’s armed forces continues to plummet.
The posts, which displayed Navy vessels and aircraft with rainbow trails, were removed without explanation. The removal also came amid backlash online from GOP politicians and observers.
A Twitter account called “End Wokeness” drew attention to the fact that the Navy had also taken down an LGBTQ+ Pride banner on its account.
The @USNavy quietly removed their LGBTQ+ Pride banner pic.twitter.com/zqsFWHGBcw
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) June 2, 2023
When questioned about the removal, a US Navy spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the graphics were originally posted to honor LGBTQ+ service members and personnel who defend the country.
The spokesperson emphasized that the Navy values the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community and aims to provide an inclusive environment.
The Navy has not provided an official explanation for the removal of the posts, though previously obtained emails indicate that officials were hesitant about allowing comments on social media posts promoting Pride month due to anticipated backlash, especially after blowback to companies like Target and Bud Light.
Results are in— conservative boycotts are crushing woke corporations:
-Target has lost $12 billion in the last week
-Bud Light has lost $26 billion in the past 2 months
-Kohls stock dropped 6.5% in two days
This is what WINNING looks like.
When will these companies learn…
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) May 31, 2023
GOP lawmakers like Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), have recently pressured the military to end diversity and inclusion initiatives, including taxpayer-funded promotion of Pride month. Rep. Roy recently sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin demanding information on all Pride month celebrations sponsored or supported by the military.
In response to these efforts, the Department of Defense canceled a “child-friendly” drag show at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada after Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) demanded answers from Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley.
🚨BREAKING🚨The Pentagon has canceled the third annual drag show at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas the night before Pride Month begins.
A Pentagon spokeswoman said that “hosting these types of events in federally funded facilities is not a suitable use of DOD resources.”
— Courtney Holland 🇺🇸 (@hollandcourtney) June 1, 2023
According to NBC News, every branch of the military has had trouble reaching their recruitment numbers:
“Every branch of the U.S. military is struggling to meet its fiscal year 2022 recruiting goals, say multiple U.S. military and defense officials, and numbers obtained by NBC News show both a record low percentage of young Americans eligible to serve and an even tinier fraction willing to consider it,” they report.
“The officials said the Pentagon’s top leaders are now scrambling for ways to find new recruits to fill out the ranks of the all-volunteer force. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks consider the shortfall a serious issue, said the officials, and have been meeting on it frequently with other leaders.”
