{"id":1945641,"date":"2023-06-06T16:26:02","date_gmt":"2023-06-06T20:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-air-force-is-using-taxpayer-money-to-fly-service-members-to-branch-pride-events\/"},"modified":"2023-06-06T16:30:17","modified_gmt":"2023-06-06T20:30:17","slug":"the-air-force-is-using-taxpayer-money-to-fly-service-members-to-branch-pride-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-air-force-is-using-taxpayer-money-to-fly-service-members-to-branch-pride-events\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Force uses taxpayer money for service members&#8217; Pride event travel."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthe-air-force-is-using-taxpayer-money-to-fly-service-members-to-branch-pride-events%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1945641&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>U.S. Air Force Authorizes Taxpayer Money for &#8220;Pride&#8221; Events<\/h2>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The U.S. Air Force has authorized Air and Space Force commanders to use taxpayer money to cover the travel costs for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-marine-corps-commanders-using-form-letter-to-deny-religious-exemptions\/\" title=\"Exclusive: Marine Corps Commanders Using Form Letter to Deny Religious Exemptions\">service members seeking<\/a> to attend the branch\u2019s upcoming \u201cpride\u201d events.<\/p>\n<p>On June 1, Marianne Malizia, the director of the Air Force\u2019s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, issued a <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/matthewlohmeier\/status\/1666062975923519490?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">memo<\/a> notifying branch commanders of several upcoming LGBT-related events in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Department of the Air Force (DAF). According to the memo, Air and Space Force commanders will be permitted to utilize \u201cunit funds\u201d to pay for service members under their command to \u201ctravel to, and participate in, this year\u2019s DAF Pride events if approved by their individual supervisory authority.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cService members or civilian employees may attend conferences at the unit expense to maintain and improve professional competency or to improve management of the Department\u2019s functions and activities,\u201d the memo reads. The DAF justifies the use of taxpayer money to pay for such travel under <a href=\"https:\/\/media.defense.gov\/2022\/Jan\/04\/2002917147\/-1\/-1\/0\/JTR.PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Section 030201<\/a> of the Defense Department\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.travel.dod.mil\/Policy-Regulations\/Joint-Travel-Regulations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Joint Travel Regulation<\/a>, which establishes \u201ctravel and transportation allowances\u201d for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">military service members<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/matthewlohmeier\/status\/1666062972320641024?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rainbow-colored flyer<\/a> accompanying the memo lists the three upcoming events the DAF is slated to participate in, including a \u201cPride at the Pentagon\u201d celebration scheduled to be held at the Pentagon Air Force Art Gallery on June 8 and an \u201cLGBTQ+ Initiatives Team (LIT) Symposium\u201d to be held at the Pentagon Library &#038; Conference Center on June 9. The Air Force will also have a recruiting booth at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.capitalpride.org\/event\/festival\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">D.C. Pride Festival<\/a> on June 11.<\/p>\n<p>The Air Force has additionally issued a <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/matthewlohmeier\/status\/1666062979098632195?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pre-constructed memo<\/a> that service members can fill out and submit to their commanders to request permission to leave their unit and travel to D.C. for the aforementioned events.<\/p>\n<p>A DAF spokeswoman confirmed the authenticity of the documents and the branch\u2019s upcoming \u201cpride\u201d events.<\/p>\n<p>This is hardly the first time the Air Force has gone out of its way to encourage the celebration of \u201cpride month.\u201d On May 3 \u2014 several days after the U.S. Navy got <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/05\/02\/report-unable-to-meet-recruiting-targets-the-u-s-navy-is-turning-to-drag-queens-for-help\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">busted<\/a> for using an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-pressure-prompts-pentagon-to-nix-air-force-drag-performance\/\" title=\"GOP Pressure Forces Pentagon to Cancel Air Force Drag Show.\">enlisted drag queen<\/a> to recruit new sailors \u2014 the Air Force <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/05\/19\/air-force-to-navy-on-drag-queens-hold-my-bud-light\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">issued<\/a> a memo \u201cempower[ing]\u201d Air Force installation commanders to \u201cplan and conduct\u201d so-called \u201cappropriate activities\u201d on bases to commemorate \u201crainbow\u201d month. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also published a separate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/News\/Releases\/Release\/Article\/3413271\/statement-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-pride-month\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">statement<\/a> praising LGBT service members last week.<\/p>\n<p>Among the previously scheduled LGBT-related events on Air Force property was an all-ages, June 1 drag show at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Following pressure from Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Mark Milley <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/06\/02\/republican-pressure-prompts-pentagon-to-nix-air-force-drag-performance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ordered<\/a> base leadership to cancel or relocate the event last week. The move came after Austin claimed during a March House hearing that \u201cdrag shows \u2026 are not something that the Department of Defense supports or funds.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., has since introduced legislation prohibiting the Defense Department \u201cfrom paying for, hosting or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-air-force-is-using-taxpayer-money-to-fly-service-members-to-branch-pride-events\/\" title=\"Air Force uses taxpayer money for service members' Pride event travel.\">supporting adult cabaret performances<\/a>,\u201d according to <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2023\/06\/06\/matt-rosendale-house-republicans-legislation-prohibit-department-of-defense-funds-drag-shows\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Daily Caller<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<hr>\n<p>Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-image data-amount=\"5\">\n<h2>Popular<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\"><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>U.S. Air Force Authorizes Taxpayer Money for &#8220;Pride&#8221; Events<\/h3>\n<p>The U.S. Air Force has authorized Air and Space Force commanders to use taxpayer money to cover the travel costs for service members seeking to attend the branch\u2019s upcoming \u201cpride\u201d events.<\/p>\n<p>On June 1, Marianne Malizia, the director of the Air Force\u2019s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, issued a memo notifying branch commanders of several upcoming LGBT-related events in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Department of the Air Force (DAF). According to the memo, Air and Space Force commanders will be permitted to utilize \u201cunit funds\u201d to pay for service members under their command to \u201ctravel to, and participate in, this year\u2019s DAF Pride events if approved by their individual supervisory authority.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cService members or civilian employees may attend conferences at the unit expense to maintain and improve professional competency or to improve management of the Department\u2019s functions and activities,\u201d the memo reads. The DAF justifies the use of taxpayer money to pay for such travel under Section 030201 of the Defense Department\u2019s Joint Travel Regulation, which establishes \u201ctravel and transportation allowances\u201d for military service members.<\/p>\n<p>A rainbow-colored flyer accompanying the memo lists the three upcoming events the DAF is slated to participate in, including a \u201cPride at the Pentagon\u201d celebration scheduled to be held at the Pentagon Air Force Art Gallery on June 8 and an \u201cLGBTQ+ Initiatives Team (LIT) Symposium\u201d to be held at the Pentagon Library &#038; Conference Center on June 9. The Air Force will also have a recruiting booth at the D.C. Pride Festival on June 11.<\/p>\n<p>The Air Force has additionally issued a pre-constructed memo that service members can fill out and submit to their commanders to request permission to leave their unit and travel to D.C. for the aforementioned events.<\/p>\n<p>A DAF spokeswoman confirmed the authenticity of the documents and the branch\u2019s upcoming \u201cpride\u201d events.<\/p>\n<p>This is hardly the first time the Air Force has gone out of its way to encourage the celebration of \u201cpride month.\u201d On May 3 \u2014 several days after the U.S. Navy got busted for using an enlisted drag queen to recruit new sailors \u2014 the Air Force issued a memo \u201cempower[ing]\u201d Air Force installation commanders to \u201cplan and conduct\u201d so-called \u201cappropriate activities\u201d on bases to commemorate \u201crainbow\u201d month. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also published a separate statement praising LGBT service members last week.<\/p>\n<p>Among the previously scheduled LGBT-related events on Air Force property was an all-ages, June 1 drag show at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Following pressure from Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Mark Milley ordered base leadership to cancel or relocate the event last week. The move came after Austin claimed during a March House hearing that \u201cdrag shows \u2026 are not something that the Department of Defense supports or funds.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., has since introduced legislation prohibiting the Defense Department \u201cfrom paying for, hosting or supporting adult cabaret performances,\u201d according to The Daily Caller.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>upcoming &#8220;pride&#8221; events and authorizing the use of taxpayer funds to cover travel expenses for service members attending.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":539,"featured_media":1945642,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[6229,4864,4649,4985,4755,6575,4400,5349,3951],"class_list":["post-1945641","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-air","tag-event","tag-force","tag-members","tag-money","tag-pride","tag-service","tag-taxpayer","tag-travel"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1945641","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/539"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1945641"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1945641\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1945642"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1945641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1945641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1945641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}