Pentagon halts drag show at US military base for elite training

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has banned drag shows from military installations. Credit: Mandel Ingan/AFP via Getty Images

The Pentagon has canceled a drag show that was scheduled to take place at the US Air Force Base for Elite Pilot Training in Nevada.

The event, which was scheduled to take place on Thursday to mark the start of Pride Month, was blocked following interference by Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense, and Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to reports.

The show was canceled because it was not «an appropriate use of the Department of Defense [Department of Defense]. resources,” the Pentagon said.

“As Secretary of State Austin said, the Department of Defense will not conduct drag and drop activities at military or U.S. installations,” spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said.

< p>“Holding such events at federally funded facilities is an inappropriate use of the resources of the US Department of Defense. Our military personnel are diverse and are allowed to have private outings.”

Third drag show.

The show was to be the third drag show to be held at Nellis Air Force Base, the center of advanced fighter training, according to a military official. .

One of them, held in June 2021, was called «Drag-at-Nellis».

The base was forced to cancel the event and move it to another location after the intervention of the Pentagon.< /p>

Leading Republicans criticize U.S. military for «waking up» focusing on diversity projects rather than combat training and combat readiness.

At a House Armed Services Committee hearing in March, Republican Rep. Matt Gatz from Florida interviewed Austin and Mr. Millie talks about hours of drag queen stories held at bases in Montana, Nevada and around the world.

«Hours of transvestite stories are not something the department funds,» Mr. Austin told the committee.

Mr. Milley asked to see the flyers because he said he did not know about such events.

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«I would like to take a look at them because I don't agree with them,» he said.

Mr. Milli was visibly angry

According to two officials, Mr. Milli was visibly angry when he heard of a drag event to be held at Nellis.

“According to Secretary Austin's congressional testimony, the Air Force will not conduct a drag event at its facilities or facilities. Commanders have been ordered to either cancel or move these activities off base,” an Air Force spokesman told NBC.

In May, Mr. Goetz wrote to Mr. Austin and Mr. Milley, detailing the six other shows. or events at bases or approved by the US military.

He asked leading military officials for more information and whether punitive measures were taken against anyone who used taxpayer money to fund them.