A senior Space Force officer has spoken out against a slew of recent anti-LGBTQ state laws, saying they negatively impact military families and armed forces preparedness.
Lieutenant General DeAnna Burt made the remarks in a fiery speech at the 12th annual DoD LGBTQ+ Pride event in Washington DC, saying the laws sometimes forced her to choose “less qualified” candidates for posts in those states.
“Since January of this year, more than 400 anti-LGBTQ+ laws have been enacted at the state level,” said Burt, Space Force deputy chief of space operations.
“That number is rising and shows a trend that could be dangerous for military personnel, their families and the preparedness of the armed forces as a whole,” the general added.
Burt explained that in some cases, the most qualified candidate could be passed over for a transfer or promotion if the laws in the new position’s state could adversely affect them or their families.
A senior Space Force officer has spoken out against a slew of recent anti-LGBTQ state laws, saying they negatively impact military families and armed forces preparedness
The general explained, “When I look at potential candidates, say for squad commands, I strive to match the right person with the right job.
‘I first look at their work performance and relevant experience. However, I also look at their personal circumstances and their family is also an important factor.
“If a good job match doesn’t feel safe being themselves and performing at their best in a particular location, or if their family could be denied critical health care due to the laws in that state, I’m forced to consider another job. candidate, and perhaps less qualified.
“Those barriers threaten our preparedness, and they are directly related to the resilience and well-being of our most important operational asset: our people.”
The Space Force press office did not immediately respond Thursday evening to a request for comment from DailyMail.com.
A spokesperson for the branch said: Fox News digitalTo stay ahead of our pace challenge and win in a competitive environment, leaders must identify and remove barriers their teams face.
“We have the top talent in the nation and we need to empower them to carry out their missions by making sure they don’t worry about the health and safety of their families,” the official said.
“The Department of the Air Force recognizes that there are various laws and regulations being proposed and passed in states across the Americas that may impact LGBTQ Airmen, Guardians, and/or their LGBTQ dependents in different ways.”
Lieutenant General DeAnna Burt said anti-LGBTQ state laws sometimes forced her to choose “less qualified” candidates for job openings in those states
A Navy Hospital Corpsman serves pie for Pride Month on Thursday on the mess decks of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. Nimitz is in the US 7th Fleet conducting routine operations
Flyers built a cardboard boat last week at a Pride Month event at Luke AFB in Arizona. The Luke Pride Committee organizes several events throughout the month of June
“We have worked to inform and educate our members about the assignment, medical, legal and other resources available to support Airmen, Guardians and their families,” the official added.
Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a statement pledging to be “committed to ensuring that our LGBTQ+ personnel in the Joint Force can continue to serve the country we all love with dignity and pride.”
“To defend our republic and win its wars, the ranks of the United States military must remain open to all qualified patriots who wish to serve,” he said.
At a recent news conference, Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brig. General Pat Ryder repeated the Defense Department’s “long standing policy” of banning drag shows on military installations.
He said the Pentagon learned of “towing events scheduled at DOD installations and facilities” at a congressional hearing in April.
“So again, the secretary advised that the department will not host such events,” Ryder said.
According to a report last week from the Human Rights Campaign, state lawmakers have introduced more than 525 bills this year that “attack the LGBTQ+ community.”
The group, the country’s largest organization advocating for LGBTQ rights, said more than 220 of the bills involved the transgender communityand more than 70 have become law.
A number of states have passed laws banning or limiting transgender medical procedures for minors, a topic that is divisive and has sparked intense debate on both sides.
Other laws include restrictions on the participation of transgender youth in school sports, rules on restrooms, and restrictions on drag performances.
Florida has become a hot spot for such measures, with Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican running for president, signing bills this spring that would ban youth from drag shows and restrict the way they learn about LGBTQ issues in schools.
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro talks to Cmdr. Emily “Hawking” Shilling during the Defense Department’s 12th annual Pride Month celebration. The Bureau of Navy Personnel recently granted Shilling a medical waiver for flight status, making her the Navy’s first transgender naval aviator to be cleared for flight duty post-transition
Many U.S. states have introduced or passed laws restricting transgender participation in athletics, another divisive issue
DeSantis, and others in favor of the measures, argue that they are vital to protecting children from adult sexual topics they are too young for.
Critics say the measures are discriminatory and violate freedom of expression and other rights of people in the LGBTQ community.
The renewed debate about LGBTQ issues, and transgender issues in particular, has made this Pride Month, which is celebrated every June, particularly fraught.
On Saturday, President Joe Biden also condemned the slew of new state measures, calling them “terrifying” attacks on LGBTQ rights.
“When families across the country are faced with excruciating decisions to move to another state to protect their child from dangerous anti-LGTBQ laws, we must act,” Biden said.
“We must stand against the hundreds of insensitive and cynical bills that have been introduced in states that target transgender children, terrifying families and criminalizing doctors and nurses,” he said.
“These laws and laws attack the most fundamental values and freedoms we have as Americans,” he said, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd, where many wore rainbow colors, shorts and sundresses, and some dressed in cross-dressing.
As president, Biden has overturned a ban on transgender people serving in the military, issued a new order to stop conversion therapy, and passed the Respect for Marriage Act, which federally recognizes same-sex marriages.