A U.S. Army officer seeks to overturn a formal reprimand rooted in his criticism of transgender troops. He’s making the novel argument that he supported the military’s actual policy as it was, not as President Joe Biden wanted it to be.
The controversy began on Jan. 25, just five days after Biden took office when the Army Times reported that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin supported Biden’s decision to repeal the Trump administration’s 2017 ban on transgender troops serving.
On social media, Maj. Andrew Calvert, who is an Army chaplain at Fort Hood, Texas, denounced the idea.
According to the Army Times, Calvert wrote on Jan. 28, “How is rejecting reality (biology) not evidence that a person is mentally unfit (ill), and thus making that person unqualified to serve. There is little difference in this than over those who believe and argue for a ‘flat earth,’ despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.”
Calvert added, “The motivation is different, but the argument is the same. This person is a MedBoard for Mental Wellness waiting to happen. What a waste of military resources and funding!”
Calvert’s commanders in the new woke Army were not pleased.
Following an investigation, Lt. Gen. Robert White formally sanctioned Calvert last month.
“You are hereby reprimanded for violating military equal opportunity policy and violating Department of Defense policy on political activities,” White said in the memo punishing Calvert, according to the Army Times. “Your actions cast serious doubt upon your character and future as a leader in the Army.”
The reprimand would become a part of Calvert’s permanent record, and adversely affect his career.
That has been delayed, however, because he has appealed.
On Wednesday, the Army Times reported that Michael Berry, a lawyer with the First Liberty Institute, a conservative legal advocacy group that represents Calvert, argued the punishment violated Calvert’s religious beliefs.
Berry also told the Army Times that Calvert “expressed his support for DOD policy at the time, consistent with his sincerely held religious beliefs and the teachings of his denomination.”
“That is always religious exercise that is protected by the Constitution and federal law.”
Although Biden issued the order in late January, it did not take effect until March 31 after a two-month Pentagon review.
Berry further told the Army Times, “As a Christian chaplain, Chaplain Calvert is permitted to speak publicly on a matter of public concern to Christians. And the Constitution, federal law, and DoD regulations all prohibit the Army from discriminating against him when he does so.”
Other News: Cuomo Says ‘Harassment Is Not Making Someone Feel Uncomfortable’
