Sec Def Austin Smirks, Denies Drag Events Held At Military Bases Were Supported By Defense Department

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin smirked when asked by Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) why drag queen events at military bases were happening.

Gaetz cited drag events at various military bases, including Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia, and Nellis Air Force Base northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada.

“How much taxpayer money should go to funding drag queen story hours on military bases?” Gaetz began.

“You know, drag queen story hours is (sic) not something that the Department funds,” Austin answered.

“Wait a second. That’s actually not what the record seems to suggest,” Gaetz charged, then cited examples of drag events at military bases:

You were going to fund one at Ramstein Air Force Base. That one got canceled but that’s DOD insignia. That’s a drag queen story hour for children. Then also at Malmstrom Air Force Base outside of Great Falls, Montana, you had a drag queen story hour for kids. At the Joint Base Langley-Eustis, you put on a drag queen story hour on a Saturday for the first-ever kid-friendly “Diversity-Equity-Inclusion Summer Festival.” And at Nellis Air Force Base, you had the “Drag You Nellis” on June 17.

In June 2021, Malmstrom Air Force Base wrote on Facebook, “To celebrate pride, the Mister Sisters will be hosting a Drag Story Time and a Drag Show, June 30. The reading will be held at the Base Library at 2 P.M. and the first 25 children will be gifted goodie-bags. The Drag Show will be held at the Grizzly Bend later that afternoon at 3:41 P.M.”

Langley-Eustis wrote on its website of its July 2022 event, “On behalf of the installation commander, the Joint Base Langley Eustis (JBLE) Breaking Barriers Alliances presents its first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summer Festival. The goal is to provide education, increase collaboration through outreach efforts, and recognize the diverse composition of JBLE. #celebratingdifferences. … There will be bouncy houses and face painting for the children.”

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Under guest speakers and performers, the website listed “Harpy Daniels — The Navy Drag Queen.”

Also, in June 2021, Task & Purpose noted, “Nellis Air Force Base made history last week for hosting its first ever drag show, where guests from the local Las Vegas drag scene performed and took attendees through the history and significance of drag within the LGBT+ community.”

“Who funded these things, Mr. Secretary?” Gaetz asked

“Listen, drag shows are not something that the Department of Defense supports or funds,” Austin responded.

“Why are they happening on military bases?” Gaetz pressed. “I just showed you the evidence. Why are they happening?”

Austin paused. “I will say again,” he appeared to smirk, “This is not something we support or fund.”

“So you think hosting a drag queen story hour on a military base isn’t supporting the drag queen story hour?” Gaetz fired.

“I stand by what I just said,” Austin replied.

“You may stand by it but it’s belied by the evidence over and over again,” Gaetz concluded.

Rep. @mattgaetz confronts Defense Secretary Austin about funding drag queen story hours on military bases.

Secretary Austin COMPLETELY STONEWALLS and REFUSES to answer any questions. pic.twitter.com/fewLV7etZC

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 29, 2023