Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (whose job title changed from Secretary of Defense at the beginning of September) has unjustly fired transgender Navy healthcare specialist Janelle Marra after being “tipped off” by social media account Libs of TikTok.
Their latest target was Commander Janelle Marra. Marra’s Defence Health Agency bio revealed that she “began her naval service through a health professions scholarship programme in 2004.” She was a senior medical officer, the Deputy Medical Director of Transgender Care for the Navy, and the Director of Medical Services.
Libs of TikTok, a right-wing account run by founder Chaya Raichik, has regularly attacked the LGBTQ+ community over the years.
On September 4, after an X (formerly Twitter) user posted: “I’m sad to report that DEI([diversity, equity, and inclusion) isn’t fully dead yet (at the Department of Defense), meet @USNavy commander Janelle Marra.” Then, Libs of TikTok responded, “Yikes. This she/her navy commander is apparently a medical director for ‘transgender healthcare’ at a naval centre in California. Can you please look into this, Pete Hegseth?”
Within several hours, Hegseth responded: “Pronouns updated: she/her/fired.” The post has been viewed more than 10.8 million times, reposted by 7,000 people, and liked 20,000 times.
In January of this year, President Donald Trump signed one of many executive orders, this one aimed at eliminating DEI initiatives from both the federal government and the military. After being approved by Congress, Hegseth said he would not tolerate DEI programs at the Pentagon.
Responding to the abrupt firing, astronautical engineer and author Bree Fram wrote on LinkedIn: “Janelle Marra is an outstanding Navy doctor who volunteered to serve and has done far more than this country asked of her. She always went the extra mile to take care of others.” Fram continues: “Thousands of military members are living better lives today thanks to Dr Marra. Others are alive thanks to her. And this is the thanks she gets from her nation?”
