Navy Admiral Defends Non-Binary Sailor | GOP Criticism
- Michael Gilday,staunchly defended a non-binary sailor,LTJG Audrey Knutson,after criticism from Republican lawmakers regarding the Navy's diversity,equity and inclusion efforts.
- Knutson's story gained attention after being featured on the Navy’s Instagram page.
- Sen.Marco Rubio, R-Fla., criticized the video, tweeting, "while China prepares for war, this is what they have our US Navy focused on." Sen.Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., echoed this sentiment,...
adm. Michael Gilday, the U.S. Navy’s top admiral, is standing firm in his defense of LTJG Audrey Knutson, a non-binary sailor, following criticism from Republican lawmakers targeting the Navy’s diversity initiatives.The primary_keyword here is “diversity,” with a secondary_keyword of “GOP,” as the admiral emphasizes the critical role of inclusion in building effective warfighting teams, while senators like Marco Rubio and Tommy Tuberville voice their concern about the Navy’s priorities. Gilday highlights Knutson’s dedication and service, countering accusations of a “woke” military. News Directory 3 provides an in-depth look at this developing story, including the differing perspectives.Discover what’s next as the Navy navigates these complex issues while maintaining combat readiness.
Navy Chief Defends Non-Binary Sailor Amid criticism From GOP Lawmakers
Updated June 09, 2025
The U.S. navy’s top admiral, Adm. Michael Gilday,staunchly defended a non-binary sailor,LTJG Audrey Knutson,after criticism from Republican lawmakers regarding the Navy’s diversity,equity and inclusion efforts. Gilday affirmed his pride in the sailor during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday.
Knutson’s story gained attention after being featured on the Navy’s Instagram page. The video highlighted Knutson’s pride in serving as non-binary, especially given their grandfather’s service as a gay man during World War II. Knutson mentioned a highlight from a deployment aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford: reading a poem at an LGBTQ spoken word night.
Sen.Marco Rubio, R-Fla., criticized the video, tweeting, “while China prepares for war, this is what they have our US Navy focused on.” Sen.Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., echoed this sentiment, expressing concerns during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.
Gilday countered the criticism, emphasizing the importance of building a cohesive warfighting team. He highlighted Knutson’s grandfather’s service and the sailor’s willingness to serve and deploy.
“I’ll tell you why I’m notably proud of this sailor,” Gilday said. “So,her grandfather served during World War II,and he was gay and he was ostracized in the very institution that she not only joined and is proud to be a part of,but she volunteered to deploy on Ford and she’ll likely deploy again next month when Ford goes back to sea.”
Gilday stressed that the Navy seeks individuals from diverse backgrounds and that commanding officers must foster a climate of dignity and respect. He affirmed his pride in serving alongside anyone willing to uphold the oath and put their life on the line.
Some Republican lawmakers have accused the military of being too “woke,” attributing it to recruiting challenges. Though,an Army survey indicated that only a small percentage of potential recruits were concerned about “wokeness.”
Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla.,previously criticized the Defense Department’s diversity,equity and inclusion training. Under Secretary of Defense for personnel and Readiness Gil Cisneros responded that such training has been a long-standing practice in the military.
Sgt. Maj. Of the Army michael Grinston emphasized that the military remains focused on combat readiness, even with diversity and inclusion training. He noted the significant difference in training hours dedicated to rifle marksmanship compared to equal prospect training.
What’s next
The Navy will likely continue to address concerns about diversity, equity and inclusion while maintaining its focus on combat readiness and warfighting capabilities.