Eighteen Republicans in the House of Representatives voted against an amendment from Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) to defund “Pride Month” celebrations at the Defense Department.

The proposed amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2024 stated that “none of the funds appropriated” by the bill could be “used to carry out the observance of Pride Month,” which is currently listed as one of the official Defense Department cultural observances and awareness events. The amendment was supported by 202 lawmakers, all of whom were Republicans, and opposed by 231 lawmakers in a Wednesday evening vote.

The Republicans who opposed the move were Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), Rep. John Curtis (R-UT), Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY), Rep. John Duarte (R-CA), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Rep. Tony Gonzalez (R-TX), Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH), Rep. Thomas Kean (R-NJ), Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA), Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY), Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Rep. Marcus Molinaro (R-NY), Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA), and Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA).

Opposition to the amendment comes after the Pentagon garnered criticism for various “Pride Month” initiatives this summer. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin lauded the advent of “Pride Month” in a June statement contending that “we would be rendering ourselves less fit to our weighty task if we excluded from our ranks people who meet our standards and who have the skills, the guts, and the devotion to serve in uniform.”

“Who you love and how you identify has nothing to do with how bravely you can fight for your country,” he added. “When we speak up for the rights of all Americans, when we encourage all qualified Americans to stand a post, we strengthen both our democracy and our national security.”

Officials additionally featured Army Sustainment Command Cyber Division Chief Rachel Jones, a man who claims to be a woman, in an interview with the Defense Department. Jones revealed that he was “depressed and suicidal” while attempting to conceal his identity even during his deployment.

The public statements in favor of homosexuality and transgenderism from senior military officials come even as the Defense Department witnesses an historic decline in trust and struggles to meet recruitment quotas. Officials from the Army, for instance, missed recruitment targets by 25% in the last fiscal year.