National Guard officer who shared Christian beliefs removed from command in Idaho
By isabelle // 2024-08-26
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The Idaho Army National Guard is under fire after removing an infantry officer from command and pressuring him to resign following complaints from another soldier about his Christian beliefs. The officer reportedly expressed his religious beliefs on his private social media accounts, where he shared opinions about the sexualization of minors as well as gender ideology. Some of the comments that drove the soldier to complain about him included his opposition to "the medical mutilation of gender-confused children," drag events at schools and libraries, and the availability of obscene children's books and libraries. He also said that he thinks "no child is born in the wrong body" and that males should not be allowed to compete in female sports. A sensitive subordinate took issue with his stances, even though they were shared outside of the military environment, saying that they indicate he “truly hates the LGBTQ community.” He was apparently so offended by his Christian beliefs that he filed a complaint that claimed: "I feel like I have been discriminated against because of my sexual orientation and that is [sic] has caused a hostile work environment.” The soldier, who claims he is homosexual, added: “I am deeply concerned about the hostile and prejudiced behavior I have experienced, which has adversely affected my well-being, work performance, and overall sense of belonging within the workplace/organization." He said that he felt “unsafe” and accused his superior of “hate” toward himself as well as his husband and child. This prompted the National Guard to remove him from command, and officials then pressured him to quit. They went on to conduct a formal investigation that took a year and ended with the recommendation that he be barred permanently from command. The officer who investigated him indicated that enlisted personnel who express traditional values and morals are “extremists” who should not be promoted or serve. He also recommended that the National Guard adopt a policy of looking for political and religious statements that enlisted candidates for high-profile roles have made in public forums.

Legal group is supporting officer's right to free speech and seeking his reinstatement

The National Guard officer who was the subject of the complaints is being represented by Liberty Counsel, who are fighting on behalf of his right to free speech and pressing the National Guard to restore his career. They have already notified Idaho Governor Brad Little about the violations and are calling for the National Guard to dismiss the frivolous complaint. They asked the governor to respond to them by the end of the month or face further legal action. "In this instance, the Idaho Army National Guard has violated the First Amendment, Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the Idaho Constitution, and the Free Exercise of Religious Protection Act. In addition, it has become evident that this military branch seeks to implement a policy of discrimination against the religious beliefs of enlisted personnel," they noted. They also stated that the officer believes that everyone is created in God's image and deserves respect. They explained that he is perfectly capable of carrying out his duties regardless of his religious beliefs and any conflicts they may have with the beliefs of others under his command, stating: “He is committed to serving those under his command, regardless of political or religious disagreements, and would give his life in defense of his state and nation." Sources for this article include: WND.com LC.org
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