U.S. Air Force bases in Virginia and Texas are planning to host several on-base, LGBT-themed events commemorating “pride month” in the coming weeks.
In a statement provided to The Federalist, Air Force Maj. Carrie Volpe, Joint Base Langley-Eustis’ (JBLE) chief of public affairs, confirmed the Virginia installation has plans to host its second annual “Diversity Equity Inclusion & Accessibility Festival” on June 30, which will include a “Pride informational booth” and “many others exhibits from diverse groups.” A trip to JBLE’s website also reveals that the Air Force base is scheduled to hold additional festivities in celebration of “rainbow” month, including a 5K Rainbow Run on June 15, as well as a Pride Month Paint n’ Sip and LGBTQ Panel to be held on June 23.
All of the events are being spearheaded by the Breaking Barriers Alliance, a JBLE initiative that, according to Volpe, is designed to “cultivate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I).”
BBA’s “main objective is to foster an organizational culture that promotes a diverse and inclusive environment for members to facilitate open dialogue, recognize and embrace differences to improve mission performance,” Volpe said.
For context, so-called diversity, inclusion, and equity (often abbreviated to DEI) programs are driven by a divisive and poisonous ideology that dismisses merit to discriminate based on characteristics such as skin color and sex. Individuals who qualify for a certain position on their merits, but don’t meet the goal of being more “diverse,” are passed over in favor of those who check whatever
