A high-ranking officer in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the uniformed service branch in which Assistant Health Secretary Rachel Levine serves as an Admiral, is one of several service members pursuing legal action as the entity imposes a gender identity policy that would force them to contradict their religious beliefs about sexuality, a development exclusively revealed to The Sentinel.
Service members in the Uniformed Public Health Service were sent an email last week informing them that “all employees should be addressed by the names and pronouns they use to describe themselves” and that “employees can wear clothing and use restrooms in accordance with their gender identity.” The email, obtained by The Sentinel, also featured a video from Levine, a man who was once known as Richard but now claims to be a woman, who revealed that “all supervisors and managers” are expected to help implement the policy.
One senior officer in the Uniformed Public Health Service, who has chosen to keep their name and rank hidden for protection against retaliation, recently contacted legal advocacy group Stand With Warriors since the new gender identity policy is in direct contradiction with their religious faith, rendering the individual unable to comply. Stand With Warriors General Counsel Davis Younts said in comments to The Sentinel that the whistleblower is “one of several civilians and uniformed service members seeking legal solutions” with respect to the policy.
“This policy will have a clear negative impact on good order and discipline and create uncertainty within the military,” remarked Younts, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who served in the JAG Corps. “Not only will Christians face disciplinary action and potential criminal prosecution if they fail to comply, but this will also have a significant impact on basic military discipline. The concept that gender is fluid will create significant problems with regard to living arrangements, bathrooms, showers, and even uniform and grooming standards.”
Younts added that other branches of the military are drafting similar policies and have already implemented various diversity training programs, leading him to believe that the Uniformed Public Health Service gender identity policy marks a trial run which will be repeated across the military “if there is almost universal compliance and no pushback.”
“There is no question the continued hostility to basic Christian values and beliefs will have a negative impact on retention and recruiting,” Younts continued. “The embrace of radical gender ideology will continue the purge of Christians from the military and create chaos. Military leaders must return to a focus on basic values and the fundamentals necessary for fighting and winning our nation's wars and protecting the American people.”
The new gender identity policy comes two years after the Defense Department implemented a vaccine mandate amid the lockdowns, resulting in various threats against service members who refused the treatment. Several branches are meanwhile reporting severe recruitment shortfalls amid declining nationwide trust in the military as an institution.
The Biden administration has implemented multiple sexual orientation and gender identity compliance policies across the federal government over the past three years. Audio recordings leaked to The Sentinel this summer showed that employees of the Social Security Administration were required to watch an online training about pronoun use, which threatened investigations for those deemed noncompliant with the policy.
