The leading admiral of the US Navy has strongly supported a non-binary sailor in response to criticism from some Republican lawmakers. The admiral expressed pride in the sailor, LTJG Audrey Knutson, whose story was recently highlighted on the Navy's Instagram account. In a video, Knutson shared their pride in serving as non-binary, noting their grandfather's service as a gay man in the Navy during World War II. Knutson recounted a memorable moment from their deployment on the USS Gerald R. Ford, where they read a poem at an LGBTQ spoken word event. The video received nearly 17,000 likes.
Senator Marco Rubio from Florida criticized the video, suggesting that the Navy's focus should be elsewhere, given global tensions. Senator Tommy Tuberville from Alabama also voiced concerns during a Senate Armed Services Committee meeting.
Adm. Michael Gilday, the Chief of Naval Operations, defended Knutson, highlighting the importance of building a cohesive and respectful team. He mentioned Knutson's grandfather's past struggles and praised Knutson's commitment to service. Although Gilday used female pronouns, the Navy clarified that Knutson identifies as non-binary.
Gilday emphasized the Navy's commitment to inclusivity, stating that it is essential for commanding officers to foster trust and respect within their units. He expressed pride in serving alongside anyone willing to take the oath and serve the nation.
Some Republican lawmakers have criticized the military's focus on diversity, blaming it for recruitment challenges. However, a recent Army survey indicated that only a small percentage of potential recruits were concerned about this issue.
At a House Armed Services Subcommittee hearing, Republican Rep. Cory Mills criticized the Defense Department's diversity training. In response, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Gil Cisneros noted that such training has long been part of military practice.
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston, during a separate hearing, reiterated that the military's primary focus remains on combat readiness, with diversity training taking up only a small portion of the overall training time.