Space Force official: candidates from states that prohibit ‘critical healthcare’ may be denied
Eric Daugherty contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (FLV) – A U.S. Space Force General said she may consider “less qualified” candidates due to a state’s “anti-LGBTQ+ laws.”
Lt. Gen. DeAnna Burt spoke at a Pentagon pride event last week where she claimed those laws affect hiring departments.
States including Florida have passed laws to prohibit minors from receiving sex transition surgeries and medications to transition.
While Burt said she considers job performance “first,” she also reviews “personal circumstances.”
“If a good match for a job does not feel safe being themselves and performing at their highest potential at a given location, or if their family could be denied critical health care due to the laws in that state, I am compelled to consider a different candidate and perhaps less qualified,” Burt said.
SHOCKING: Space Force Lt. Gen. DeAnna Burt admits the U.S. military discriminates against Floridians when considering promotions — leading to “less qualified” officers — because @RonDeSantis banned trans surgeries for KIDS.
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) June 15, 2023
DeSantis will end this woke insanity on Day One. pic.twitter.com/KkcnRVI4mS
Gov. Ron DeSantis responded, saying if president, his administration “will never promote military leaders who abuse their power to push a woke ideology.”
“Our nation needs to focus on military readiness, not an ideological agenda,” he said.
While Florida has banned sex transition medications and procedures for minors, the Biden administration has insisted its support for “health care” for transgender kids. He previously called Florida rules on the transition operations “cruel.”
“Transgender children are put at higher risk of attempted suicide or mental health challenges when they face bullying, rejection, or denial of health care,” the White House said.
DeSantis previously called these procedures the “mutilation” of children.
“I know like people in your industry will dress it up with a euphemism and they’ll say it’s ‘health care’ to cut off the private parts of a 14 or 15-year-old – that is not health care. That is mutilation,” DeSantis said. “And so when we’re standing up against that, we’re protecting these kids.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated to include a response from Gov. Ron DeSantis.
