For the first time since DADT, the Pentagon has not acknowledged Pride Month

In a move many activists have interpreted as the Pentagon actively distancing itself from the LGBT+ community, there has been no official memo from the agency formally acknowledging Pride Month. Ever since 2012 – the year after Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was repealed – the Pentagon has issued a memo at the start of Pride Month, encouraging personnel to hold celebratory events, as the Pentagon encourages of every holiday and heritage month.

Some have speculated this is because of Trump’s continued efforts to install a ban on transgender soldiers serving in the military.

A former senior Obama administration official explained why a Pride Month memo was so important: “It opens the door for LGBT service members, civilians and their allies on military bases to hold events recognizing Pride Month without having to ask for special permission or an exception. It makes it known that there’s an authorization, that there’s support.”

Air Force Maj. Carla Gleason, a spokeswoman for the Pentagon, declined to explain why there was no memo this year, but did say in a statement: “The Department of Defense supports diversity of all kinds across our military and we encourage everyone to celebrate the diversity of our total force team. We value all members of the DOD total force and recognize their immense contributions to the mission.”

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