Space Force Lt. Gen. DeAnna Burt suggested that “anti-LGBTQ+” laws passed by several states threaten military readiness and that these laws affected hiring and promotion decisions.
Burt is the deputy chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear, according to the U.S. Space Force website.
After considering a candidate’s job performance and relevant experience, Burt looks at “personal circumstances” while also considering the candidate’s family, she stated.
“If a good match for a job does not feel safe being themselves and performing at their highest potential at a given location or if their family could be denied critical health care due to the laws in that state, I am compelled to consider a different candidate and perhaps less qualified,” Burt said.
DeSantis War Room, the rapid response team for GOP presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, slammed Burt’s comments in a June 16 tweet, calling it “shocking.”
“Space Force Lt. Gen. DeAnna Burt admits the U.S. military discriminates against Floridians when considering promotions—leading to ‘less qualified’ officers—because @RonDeSantis banned trans surgeries for KIDS. DeSantis will end this woke insanity on Day One,” DeSantis War Room said.
LGBT Agenda in the US Military
Burt’s comments come as the U.S. military has been under scrutiny for pushing a transgender agenda at its facilities.“Does the Navy endorse drag shows? Where does the Navy draw the line on promotion of the personal activities of its influencers? Would the Navy enlist burlesque or exotic dancers to reach possible recruits?” the senators wrote.
“Such activity is not appropriate for promotion in a professional workplace or the United States military.”
The feathers of the eagle icon the Navy uses in its Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram pics were also altered to match the colors of the rainbow flag. However, the Navy soon removed the banners and the altered icon.
“It is a stupid way to go about protecting our nation. We need to spend more time thinking about how to counter threats like China, Russia, and North Korea and less time thinking about pronouns.”