The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was roasted by social media users after it posted a Pride Month tribute on Twitter.
In a tweet Thursday, the CIA said Pride Month is a time to recognize the agency’s “rich history” of “LGBTQ+ officers” and their work.
“Pride Month is an occasion for all of us at the Agency to pay tribute to the rich history, community, and mission contributions of our LGBTQ+ officers,” the CIA tweeted.
CIA's 2023 theme for #Pride Month is WELCO-ME!
Wellness
Equity
LGBTQ+
Community
Openness
ME!Pride Month is an occasion for all of us at the Agency to pay tribute to the rich history, community, and mission contributions of our LGBTQ+ officers.#Pride2023 pic.twitter.com/aEEZplX13s
— CIA (@CIA) June 8, 2023
The tweet prompted immediate ridicule from social media users. Some commenters asked whether the post was real, attempting to make sure it was not from a CIA parody account.
“Well this is wildly dystopian,” tweeted The Daily Wire podcast host Ben Shapiro.
Well this is wildly dystopian https://t.co/vezExCrxpB
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) June 8, 2023
“In fairness to the CIA, ‘Pride’ is a massive psyop,” The Daily Wire host Michael Knowles tweeted.
“Re-branding US foreign policy and the US intelligence agencies, including the CIA, as a crusade for LGBTQ2AI+ rights is a truly genius feat of marketing,” tweeted journalist Glenn Greenwald. “It’s one of the reasons – not the only – that US liberals now regards the CIA and US foreign policy as so benevolent.”
“Can’t believe this is real,” tweeted Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH).
“How is this not a parody account???” tweeted Donald Trump Jr., the son of former President Donald Trump.
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“The CIA is a woke spa, not a spy agency to protect America from foreign infiltration,” Fox News host Laura Ingraham tweeted.
“This you?” tweeted Washington Free Beacon investigative reporter Chuck Ross, along with 1980 guidance from the CIA on “homosexual investigations.”
This you? https://t.co/DKHzsmAAQ5 pic.twitter.com/gi7NgE5oPp
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) June 8, 2023
The 43-year-old CIA document says “homosexual investigations” are extremely complex and sensitive.
“One of the most common mistakes made by the average person is the conviction that he can recognize a homosexual on sight. This is similar to recognizing a Communist. The subject has a mental or emotional problem rather than a physical one,” the old guidance says.
Lesbians and gay men were once unable to obtain security clearance to work in the CIA over concerns that they were a security risk because they were subject to blackmail. In 1995, former President Bill Clinton signed an executive order ending the practice of barring gay men and women from joining the CIA. Over the last decade, the CIA has begun actively recruiting people from those demographics.
In the same Pride Month tweet, CIA said its 2023 theme for Pride Month is “WELCO-ME!” which stands for Wellness, Equity, LGBTQ+, Community, Openness, and “ME!”
Several other government agencies have shared Pride Month messages on social media, including the Transportation Department, which is run by Pete Buttigieg, who recently adopted newborn twins with his husband.
USDOT is proud to stand with the LGBTQI+ community. #PrideMonth pic.twitter.com/fgLQfM1tjI
— TransportationGov (@USDOT) June 1, 2023