Amongst last week’s attempts to shut down the government, you may have missed an amendment by Rep. Boebert which used the Holman rule to target the DoD’s highest-ranking transgender official, United States Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness and Force Management, Shawn Skelly, proposing to cut her salary to just $1 per year. Boebert both misgendered Skelly in her attack and showed no substantial reason why Assistant Secretary Skelly should have her salary reduced. This amendment, as well as a similar one from Rep. Taylor Greene cutting Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s salary, were successfully inserted into the bill, though these measures have no chance of making their way through the Senate.
Studies show that 20% of transgender people have served in the military, which is double the percentage of the U.S. general population that has served. Currently, the Department of Defense is struggling to recruit and retain talent throughout all its ranks. The DoD’s efforts are hindered by ongoing attacks by members of Congress against the LGBTQ+ community who want to serve their country. Anti-equality legislation and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments such as those shared by Rep. Boebert against Hon. Shawn Skelly are anti-patriotic and a direct threat to recruitment efforts and national security.
We cannot allow anti-equality agendas to harm LGBTQ+ people who are currently serving or who have served honorably and deserve to receive all benefits and services free from discrimination. All qualified members of society should be allowed to serve their country, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity.
If you would like to tell Congress that you do not support anti-equality amendments in the NDAA, MilCon, DoD, and other funding bills, please refer to our FY 2024 appropriations advocacy toolkit.
