Defense department ends gay pride month, other identity group celebrations

Goodbye, U.S. military Pride Month social media posts.

The United States will no longer spend military dollars and resources on identity-focused celebrations.

The Department of Defense (DOD) announced Friday it won’t use any taxpayer money or man-hours on various racial and sexual orientation-related calendar celebrations. 

“Our unity and purpose are instrumental to meeting the Department’s warfighting mission. Efforts to divide the force – to put one group ahead of another – erode camaraderie and threaten mission execution,” the department said in a release. 

“Going forward, DoD Components and Military Departments will not use official resources, to include man-hours, to host celebrations or events related to cultural awareness months, including National African American/Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Pride Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and National American Indian Heritage Month.” 

DOD clarified that service members can attend such events, but not in an official military capacity. 

“Installations, units, and offices are encouraged to celebrate the valor and success of military heroes of all races, genders, and backgrounds as we restore our warrior culture and ethos,” the department said. “We are proud of our warriors and their history, but we will focus on the character of their service instead of their immutable characteristics.” 

Newly inaugurated Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the military’s anti-DEI stance will strengthen it. 

“The era of DEI is gone at the Defense Department, and we need the best and brightest, whether it’s in our air traffic control or whether it’s in our generals, or whether it’s throughout government,” he told ABC News. 

The announcement comes as Trump signed executive orders preventing the federal government from promoting gender ideology or diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Trump’s DEI order says his administration will eliminate racial discrimination in federal hiring, contracts and spending. 

“President Trump promised to terminate DEI in the federal government, protect equal opportunity, and force schools to end discriminatory admissions policies, and he delivered,” the order says. “Every man and woman should have the opportunity to go as far as their hard work, individual initiative, and competence can take them. In America, excellence, grit, and determination is our strength.” 

Since Trump signed that directive two weeks ago, the administration has taken several actions to eliminate DEI, such as placing all DEI employees on leave.  

The administration also plans to strictly enforce the 2023 Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College Supreme Court ruling, which banned racial preferences in college admissions.