Pete Hegseth on LGBTQ+ Rights
TL;DR
Pete Hegseth actively opposes LGBTQ+ inclusion in the military, targeting DEI initiatives, transgender service, and related ship naming conventions.
Key Points
He ordered the renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk, an oiler ship named for the LGBTQ rights icon, during Pride month in 2025.
As Secretary of Defense, he mandated that combat-related physical requirements return to the “highest male standard only,” despite existing gender-neutral standards.
He publicly stated, “No more pronouns. No more climate change obsession. No more dudes in dresses, we're done with that shit,” in a 2025 keynote address.
Summary
Pete Hegseth, as Secretary of Defense, has taken several visible actions and made public statements that demonstrate a strong opposition to LGBTQ+ inclusion within the United States military. He called for an end to what he termed "woke military" culture, specifically citing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts and LGBTQ+ issues in a major address to senior leaders. In that address, Hegseth declared, “No more dudes in dresses,” and indicated that requirements for combat roles would return to the “highest male standard only,” suggesting women who cannot meet these standards would be excluded, stating, “If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is.”
His actions align with a stated intent to remove what he views as divisive social elements from the armed forces. For example, Hegseth ordered the renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk, a vessel named after the slain LGBTQ rights activist and Navy veteran, an act he framed as part of a campaign to reestablish the “warrior ethos.” Furthermore, he previously supported a ban on transgender people serving, asserting that those with gender dysphoria should be expelled and have their healthcare eliminated. This stance has been met with organized opposition from LGBTQ+ rights groups, who argue his policies are based on hostility and undermine military readiness.
Key Quotes
“If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is.”
“...we're done with that shit,”
Frequently Asked Questions
Pete Hegseth holds a negative position, primarily focusing on reversing policies he deems inclusive within the military. He has strongly voiced opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and transgender service members. His actions and statements indicate a desire to eliminate what he refers to as "woke" elements from the Department of Defense.
Evidence suggests his current actions as Defense Secretary are a fulfillment of long-standing conservative views. During his time at The Princeton Tory, he railed against the “homosexual lifestyle” as immoral. His recent directives against LGBTQ+ inclusion in the military appear to be a strong continuation of these earlier sentiments rather than an evolution.
Pete Hegseth baselessly claimed that transgender soldiers are "not deployable" because they are “reliant on chemicals” and stated that being transgender in the military causes complications. He also supported a ban on transgender military service, suggesting those with gender dysphoria should be expelled and lose healthcare coverage.
Sources5
Pete Hegseth | GLAAD
Pete Hegseth Wants Women Out of the Military—and He's Not Hiding It | American Civil Liberties Union
Hegseth calls for an end to 'woke' military, citing DEI and LGBTQ issues
New Filing Says Secretary Hegseth's Public Statements and the Talbott Case Make Clear the DC Circuit Must Address Whether the Transgender Military Ban is Based on Hostility or 'Animus' - National Center for LGBTQ Rights
Hegseth orders oil ship USNS Harvey Milk be renamed in pursuit of "warrior ethos"
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.