In the latest example of leftist identity politics infecting the U.S. military, The Federalist has discovered that a high-ranking Air Force official recently promoted by President Joe Biden participated in a 2022 California “pride” parade.
Nominated by Biden to serve as major general earlier this month, Air Force Brig. Gen. Steven J. Butow was among several U.S. service members to participate in the 2022 Silicon Valley Pride Parade. Butow currently serves as commander of the California Air National Guard.
A picture taken by Tech. Sgt. Stefany Leyva and posted to DVIDS, a military media database, shows Butow posing for a photograph alongside his fellow service members during the San Jose-based event on Aug. 28, 2022. All of the individuals photographed — including Butow — are depicted wearing what appear to be lanyards attached to rainbow-colored event passes.
A separate photograph also reveals that Butow actively participated in the parade, which, according to the photo caption, marked the “fourth [p]ride parade” the California Military Department participated in last year and gave enlistees “an opportunity to march in the communities they serve while also promoting diversity and inclusion.”
“We’re a community-based organization. … The best part about the Guard is the Guard should reflect the communities that we represent,” Butow said, echoing leftist rhetoric. The comments were recorded by Grizzly Magazine, a publication associated with the California Military Department.
Hosted by Silicon Valley Pride, the annual parade was among several LGBT-themed festivities held by the group that week. According to local media
