Discrimination Against LGBTQ+ Community on Military Installations During Pride Month

Washington D.C. (June 14, 2024) – As Pride Month unfolds, troubling reports of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination and arbitrary denials of Pride events hosted on military installations have surfaced. These incidents highlight systemic issues undermining the Department of Defense’s (DoD) commitment to ensuring that the LGBTQ+ military community is valued, respected, and supported. Reports include:

  • Alterations to morning announcement policies at a DoDEA school thus creating barriers for students wishing to share LGBTQ+ history, a privilege afforded to other cultural groups.
  • Institution of dress code requirements that ban all flags, which appears to specifically target those displaying LGBTQ+ pride flags, without informing staff or students at a DoDEA school.
  • Altercations and bullying toward students who identify as LGBTQ+ at a DoDEA school.
  • A Pride-themed story time with a service member being denied as the event might offend someone.
  • A Pride-themed “Chalk the Walk” being denied due to the possibility of a hate message being written.
  • Pinwheels for Pride, which lines walkways with rainbow pinwheels being denied as pinwheels may be perceived as Pride flag adjacent.
  • A Pride Game Night which requires all board games to be pre-approved to ensure none are controversial.
  • Installations underplaying proclamations in observance of Pride Month to reduce the visibility of their support.
  • Requesting civilian employees remove Pride decorations from their office space as it might offend despite decorations for other cultural events being acceptable.
  • Installations hosting “Army Heritage Month” in lieu of Pride month as “AHM is intended to honor all diversity.” However, other cultural or identity-based observances still occur throughout the year.
Pride, June 1-30, is a DoD approved “Cultural Observance and Awareness Event.” Modern Military is receiving reports that events, regularly approved for other DoD Cultural Observance and Awareness events, are being arbitrarily denied for Pride. Importantly, June 2024 marks the first anniversary of the Pentagon’s ban on drag performances on military installations. It is not a coincidence that Pride activities are being banned as military leaders fear backlash to any perceived support of the LGBTQ+ community during Pride month.

Modern Military calls upon the Pentagon to thoroughly investigate incidents of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, remove the policy banning drag shows and story hours, and share clarified guidance immediately regarding what is “allowable” and “banned” for all DoD approved Cultural Observance and Awareness events.


Until these issues are addressed and clarity is provided, we will continue to see the politicization and prohibition of LGBTQ+ friendly activities on military installations. This sends a message to service members that they are unable to bring their full selves to their military service and that their LGBTQ+ identity does not deserve the same recognition as other identity groups.

In a memo regarding the observance of Pride month, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Ashish S. Vazirani, stated “ Our commitment to inclusivity must be unwavering. We welcome all individuals who meet the qualifications to serve, irrespective of their gender identity or sexual orientation. When we embrace the full spectrum of human potential, we ensure our workforce remains dynamic, innovative, and prepared to meet the unprecedented obstacles facing today’s warfighters.”

It’s important to recognize that the known LGBTQ+ active-duty community makes up more than 6% of military service members and the DoD is the largest employer of transgender people. Without the LGBTQ+ community’s contributions, the military would lose hundreds of millions of dollars worth of manpower and specialized expertise.


Earlier this month, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks spoke at the 11th LGBTQ+ Pride Ceremony about the DoD’s efforts to lead on issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. “There is a stark difference between being allowed to exist in a space and being fully accepted and included. Over the past few years, we have worked to ensure department policies prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or an individual’s identification as transgender.” It’s time for DoD to uphold its commitments to the LGBTQ+ military community and ensure they are fully accepted and included on their bases during Pride month and all year long.