WASHINGTON — New CNN reporting is shining a light on former Fox News host and Trump Secretary of Defense pick Pete Hegseth and his outspoken disdain for LGBTQ+ servicemembers. In his 2024 book “The War on Warriors,” Hegseth expresses regret for not fighting the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and makes false claims about the impact of allowing gay, lesbian, and bisexual people to serve their country openly on military readiness.

“Every day, brave military servicemembers get up and courageously protect and defend our country," said Human Rights Campaign National Press Secretary Brandon Wolf. "They put their lives on the line for our freedoms, and they are owed our ironclad gratitude for their sacrifice. But for years, gay, lesbian, and bisexual people were forced to serve in the shadows or risk being discharged simply because of who they are. Thousands of lives were upended, careers destroyed. That is the legacy of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell that Pete Hegseth is romanticizing. The Secretary of Defense is responsible for supporting all our servicemembers, but Hegseth’s comments show an immense disrespect for those in the military who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, women, and anyone who doesn’t fit his own narrow ideology. Not only is he unqualified and unfit for this role, but those who have stepped up to serve their country deserve better than the failed, discriminatory policies of the past.”

During the 17 years that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was in place, more than 13,000 people were separated from the military under the policy. Nearly 2,000 of those separations were dishonorable, a blow to servicemembers and their families who worked selflessly in service to the nation. Despite fear mongering about impending military readiness issues, in the years that immediately followed the policy’s repeal, military recruitment met or exceeded its goals. 

Hegseth’s position is deeply out of touch with the American people, more than 75% of whom supported putting an end to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in 2010. Since the policy’s repeal, the Department of Defense has gone about upgrading discharges and restoring benefits to those separated under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

In interviews following his book launch, Hegseth has made increasingly disparaging remarks about LGBTQ+ servicemembers, likening gay, lesbian, and bisexual people serving in the military to “Marxism.” Last month, Hegseth also decried the service of women in the military. In an appearance on the Shawn Ryan Show, Hegseth said, “I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn’t made us more effective.” When asked by CNN to clarify Hegseth’s current position on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the Trump transition team “declined to say what specific policies Hegseth might pursue as secretary of defense, including whether he would reinstate ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ or implement changes to current standards.”

Recent estimates show that LGBTQ+ people make up more than 6% of the nation’s more than 2 million military servicemembers.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

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