When people say we are living in a clown world, stories like this tend to back up that theory. It’s not enough for progressives to push their weirdness on children and college students. But now, they are trying to get taxpayers to pay for drag shows on military bases.
Fortunately, the Pentagon has shut down this effort. But with the way things are going in American society, the “woke” crowd might get its way regardless.
RedState’s Brittany Sheehan reported on this earlier this week:
At the urging of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R), Department of Defense officials have blocked an all-ages, child-friendly, drag show that was scheduled to take place on Thursday at Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Air Force approved the show, as a celebration of Pride Month, but Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley informed the Air Force on Wednesday that the use of funding was against Pentagon policy, directing that the show be canceled or relocated off of the base.
Milley defended Secretary Austin’s decision to shut down drag shows on military bases, explaining that they “were never art of DOD policy to begin with and they’re certainly not funded by federal funds.”
In March, Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussing the performances on military bases. He engaged in a back-and-forth exchange with the secretary’s office:
Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., pressed the Pentagon on why a “Drag Story Time” was held for children at the Malmstrom Air Force base, but a similar event at a Nevada military site was canceled after reported “pressure from Defense Department leadership.”
Daines expressed his concern over the drag story time at the Montana base library in a March letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. In an April 18 response, the Pentagon said ‘the Department of the Air Force leadership values an inclusive and supportive environment to enable Service members to focus on mission and being part of a high performing team.'”
In a follow-up letter Tuesday, Daines told Austin he felt that “there was no indication in your department’s letter that the Pentagon disapproves of such activity.”
“In fact, the letter could be construed as an endorsement of such action,” the senator and National Republican Senatorial Committee chair wrote in his June letter to Austin. “This further alarmed me and is the reason I sent a response asking for clarification and also introduced legislation to stop the DOD from using taxpayer funds or taxpayer-funded facilities from hosting drag queen performances.”
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) also took issue with the drag shows, arguing that the military’s leadership should be more focused on efficiency:
The Pentagon should be MORE focused on maintaining military readiness (like shoring up our intel) than hosting drag queen events and indoctrinating troops
Rep. Roy is leading the fight to BLOCK federal funds from pushing woke LGBT ideology on the military
The Pentagon should be MORE focused on maintaining military readiness (like shoring up our intel) than hosting drag queen events and indoctrinating troops
Rep. Roy is leading the fight to BLOCK federal funds from pushing woke LGBT ideology on the military#ShrinkDCGrowAmerica https://t.co/3aEmienlG3 pic.twitter.com/J8QTaiLrfE
— Rep. Chip Roy Press Office (@RepChipRoy) April 13, 2023
Predictably, progressives are bristling at the notion that the military should not be funding drag shows. Several high-profile leftists slammed Republicans for supposedly pressuring the top brass to put a stop to the performances.
“I hate to see the Republican agenda coming in to prevent people from doing things,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
Sarah Streyder, executive director of the Secure Families Initiative,” engaged in the usual false accusations of bigotry. “This decision, at the beginning of Pride Month, sends a hurtful and exclusionary message to our LGBTQ+ military families,” she said. “It also ignores the reality that drag has been an art form used in military events for over 100 years.”
Some of the performances have been funded privately, without the use of taxpayer dollars. However, others have been funded by the government, which is a problem. If soldiers wish to watch these performances, they should have the freedom to do so. However, using money seized from hardworking Americans to pay for drag shows is silly. This whole story just seems to be yet another way the hard left is trying to push their ideology on everyone else.
