Gaetz Gets ‘Child-Friendly’ Drag Show Ejected From Military Base
Common sense celebrated a “huge victory” this week as inquiries from Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) led to the cancellation of a scheduled “child-friendly” drag show.
The location? Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. It was scheduled to be held June 1 before being abruptly canceled.
Gaetz asked Pentagon leaders how this event could be scheduled after they insisted that they did not support such “performances” on military bases. Top brass testified to the House Armed Services Committee in March that such shows were not allowed.
The Republican tweeted that his demanding answers from leadership resulted in the show being axed.
He added that these “drag shows should not be taking place on military installations with taxpayer dollars PERIOD!”
The Air Force base’s Pride Council posted that it is “saddened” to announce that the annual Pride Month Drag Show at Nellis AFB will not go on as scheduled. It explained that word came from the DoD to Commanders not to host drag events on military installations.
All is not lost, however, as it then described other Pride Council events coming in June. These include a panel, a “Paint with Pride” event, a color run, a mixer, and a commemoration walk.
Gaetz demanded answers from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley. Austin recently testified that the DoD does not support drag events on installations.
Clearly that was proven false.
The now-canceled event was advertised as “family-friendly” and friends and neighbors were encouraged to attend. It was initially approved by Air Force officials before being shot down at the top.
According to NBC News, Milley was “visibly angry” when he learned of the event. DoD reportedly gave Nevada leaders a pair of options: move the event off base or cancel it entirely.
Austin’s office also felt the need to respond to the news. In a statement to the Daily Mail, Sabrina Singh reported, “As Secretary Austin has said, the DoD will not host drag events at U.S. military installations or facilities.”
She added that “hosting these types of events in federally funded facilities is inconsistent with regulations regarding the use of DoD resources.”
Apparently that word did not make it out as far as Nevada until Rep. Gaetz stepped up and put a stop to this travesty.
