The Department of Defense (DOD) is coming under fire online for an embarrassing social media blunder when it accidentally posted a rainbow LGBTQ pride graphic in honor of PTSD Awareness Month.
June has been designated as PTSD Awareness Month by the federal government since 2014, and was also recognized as Pride Month a year prior, Fox News reported. report.
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City of Hamtramck / YouTube
“June is PTSD Awareness Month, and the Department of Defense is committed to supporting service members and veterans suffering from PTSD,” the department wrote in a statement.
“If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. You are not alone,” the post’s caption read.
The problem was with the image attached to the post.
Instead of posting an image in support of veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, the Department of Defense posted an image of the “Progress Pride Flag” and the phrase “Happy Pride Month 2024” to its 6.5 million followers.
The mistake was later realised and the post was deleted and replaced, but it was too late.
June #PTSDAwarenessMonth The Department of Defense is committed to supporting service members and veterans suffering from PTSD.
If you or someone you know is suffering, help is available.
For more information, please contact: https://t.co/yDjUPnYI5u.
you are not alone. pic.twitter.com/TS8UB817vs
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) June 1, 2024
“The internet is forever,” one X user wrote alongside a screenshot of the original post.
The Internet is forever. pic.twitter.com/ZNGU8dMEpk
— Sandy (@RightGlockMom) June 1, 2024
“I got PTSD from having LGBTQ propaganda thrust upon me in the same month,” another commenter said.
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@SheriffSF / Twitter
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategic Engagement (DATSD) Melanie Fonder Kaye’s original post about Pride is still up on her page and was reposted by the official Department of Defense account.
celebrate #PrideMonthDuring June, #Department of Defense We celebrate the strength and diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. pic.twitter.com/wdvNb3CWBM
— DATSD Melanie Fonder Kaye (@DoD_Outreach) June 1, 2024
“Yes, that’s why no one joins the military. My father [is] “Veterans can’t even get their meds from the VA on time and you’re focusing on this,” lamented another X user.
“America does not stand for your WOKE ideology, @DeptofDefense,” another commenter complained. “Shameful!”
