U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has banned diversity education programs across the military, calling ‘diversity is our strength’ the dumbest phrase in military history. Students at a Defense Department-run high school on Ramstein Air Base in Germany are protesting the changes, with hundreds planning a walkout to protest the removal of diversity-related content and initiatives. Hegseth’s directive has led to the banning of transgender individuals from serving in the military and the removal of DEI-related content from the department’s website.
Students at the high schools affected by these changes have reported that clubs like the LGBTQ Pride Club can no longer meet, classic novels have been pulled off the shelves for review, and curriculum changes have impacted LGBTQ-related psychology lessons and sex education. Some students have also experienced harassment due to the administration’s attacks on DEI.
Despite concerns about potential retribution, students are planning a protest march to the headquarters of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa and of NATO Allied Air Command. While some students fear the consequences of participating, others believe that speaking out is important to show that they have a voice and should use it to express their opinions respectfully and peacefully.
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