Pentagon Criticizes Netflix Series depicting Gay Military Romance
WASHINGTON D.C. – The Pentagon has publicly criticized a new Netflix drama, Boots, for its portrayal of a romantic relationship between two female soldiers, labeling the series ”woke garbage” despite being set in 1990. The criticism comes amid a broader pattern of conservative backlash against Netflix’s diverse content and follows recent actions by officials to roll back inclusivity initiatives.
The drama,which premiered this week,centers on the experiences of female soldiers during basic training. The Pentagon’s disapproval, reported by the Guardian, has sparked outrage from LGBTQ+ advocates and media organizations, who see it as a continuation of efforts to erase or diminish the contributions and experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals in the military. the criticism is particularly jarring given the past context; while “Don’t Ask,Don’t tell” wasn’t enacted until 1993,the series accurately reflects the clandestine realities faced by LGBTQ+ service members prior to its implementation.
The reaction echoes recent controversies involving Netflix and conservative figures. Earlier this month, Elon Musk lead a call for users to cancel their subscriptions over a transgender character in the animated series Dead End: Paranormal Park, urging his 227 million X followers to do so “for the health of your kids.” Trans voice actor Zach Barack, who voices the character, responded on X, stating, “you can fear monger all you want, but kids & parents have told me it saved their lives!!”
This latest incident also aligns with actions taken by former Fox News pundit and current US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. in June, Hegseth ordered the US Navy to remove the name of gay activist harvey Milk from one of its ships, citing a desire to “re-establish the warrior culture” of the military. The decision drew sharp criticism from sean Penn, who starred in the biopic Milk, and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, who called Hegseth “small and petty.”
The Pentagon’s scrutiny of media coverage extends beyond entertainment.Currently, the department is facing criticism for new policies requiring reporters to sign agreements that many news organizations believe would compromise the integrity of their reporting, leading several leading news organizations to return their press badges in protest.
Netflix remains the dominant force in the streaming market, boasting 301.6 million paid users across more than 190 countries.
