Friday Evening, June 25, 2021
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ARMY SHAMEFULLY DOWNGRADES
PUNISHMENT OF CHAPLAIN REPRIMANDED FOR TRANS-BASHING FACEBOOK POSTS;
MRFF FILES FOIA REQUEST


In April 2021 Army Chaplain (MAJ) Andrew Calvert was punished
by the Army for his trans-bashing Facebook posts, in which he asserted that being transgender is "evidence that a person is mentally unfit (ill)" and "a MedBoard for Mental Wellness
waiting to happen.” Chaplain Calvert's punishment was a
General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand (GOMOR).

Fundamentalist Christian legal organization First Liberty Institute is now claiming a "HUGE VICTORY" for this transphobic Army chaplain,
saying that "Chaplain Calvert had been threatened a career-ending formal reprimand" and that "First Liberty successfully appealed the reprimand, likely saving Chaplain Calvert’s career."

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED WAS NOT THE "HUGE VICTORY" THAT THE PERPETUALLY DISHONEST FIRST LIBERTY INSTITUTE IS CLAIMING IT WON.

But First Liberty Institute never lets the truth stand in the
way of a good fundraising "HUGE VICTORY" yarn!
Army Chaplain (Maj.) Andrew Calvert, pictured as a captain.
(U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School photo.)
There are two kinds of GOMORs —
a local GOMOR and a permanent GOMOR.

A permanent GOMOR remains on a soldier's record for the
rest of their career and can be seen by promotion boards,
which can indeed be career-ending.

A local GOMOR can only be seen by a soldier’s chain of command, and goes away when a soldier changes duty stations or after 3 years, whichever is sooner, and cannot be seen by a promotion board.

Chaplain Calvert did indeed face the possibility, deservedly so, of receiving a permanent GOMOR. First Liberty's appeal merely got
this reduced to a local GOMOR, a punishment that is hardly the "HUGE VICTORY" that First Liberty is telling its audience it won.

THIS TRANS-BASHING FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIAN CHAPLAIN WILL NOW JUST HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL HE CHANGES DUTY STATIONS — OR 3 YEARS, WHICHEVER IS SOONER —
TO RESUME HIS DENIGRATION OF LGBTQ SEVICE MEMBERS!
ARMY TIMES
COVERS MRFF

Army releases new transgender policy,
but can it prevent discrimination?

By: Davis Winkie

Friday, June 25, 2021

MRFF synopsis of article: Army Times reports on the Army’s new policy that allows transgender soldiers to serve openly and how Chaplain (MAJ) Andrew Calvert’s maligning of transgender service members is at odds with this Army policy.

The article quotes MRFF Founder and President Mikey Weinstein saying of this travesty: “I would call it a wretched hypocrisy to just sit there with this new policy, then you have a field-grade officer, a chaplain…[get] a local GOMOR which instantly goes away when he [is reassigned] as if it was never there,”
THE CHRISTIAN POST
COVERS MRFF

Army won't punish chaplain threatened
with reprimand for Facebook post on
transgender military ban

By: Michael Gryboski

Thursday, June 24, 2021

MRFF synopsis of article: The Christian Post perpetuates First Liberty Institute’s lie of a "HUGE VICTORY" for Chaplain (MAJ) Andrew Calvert.
MRFF has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to find out exactly how, in the Biden administration's inclusive military, the transphobic Army chaplain MAJ Andrew Calvert can be given
a free pass to denigrate and demean any
sector of the military community

MRFF has requested:

1. All documents related to the 15-6 investigation of Chaplain (MAJ) Andrew Calvert of the 3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade, commenced in January 2021.

2. The General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand (GOMOR) received by Chaplain (MAJ) Andrew Calvert, signed by III Corps commander LTG Robert White on April 22, 2021.

3. All documents related to Chaplain (MAJ) Andrew Calvert’s appeal of his April 22, 2021 GOMOR and the outcome of this appeal.
In January, MRFF demanded that Chaplain
(MAJ) Calvert be court-martialed not only for his maligning of transgender service members but for his denigration of non-fundamentalist Christians
MRFF has been on the forefront fighting for
military members of the transgender community:
MRFF's Inbox
"2021 Mid-year appeal message"

Hi Mikey,

Some years ago I shared in a brief story to you and your organization of my experience while in the U.S. Army being forced to choose from several religious denominations for imprinting on my dog-tags. When I had enlisted (ca. 1980, primarily due to a poor economy with little prospect for good work), I was already a reasoned (and reasonable) young man in spite of having been indoctrinated my entire life in a fundamentalist christian home and church family. They too had early designs towards creating from our United States a Christian nation (fitted with all the condemnations that could be wielded against “others”). Even as a child I recognized that this was counter to our Constitution so I never could reconcile the clear differences between their nationalistic goals, the “teachings” of “Jesus” and the founding principles of our nation. I had been, and remained an atheist.

I was quite disappointed that, at that time, neither “atheist” nor “none” was an option to me. I had to choose “no preference.” Such a choice was degrading, demoralizing, and disrespectful of my right to declare my allegiance to my country without requiring me to lie about it. I shared that story with you because of my appreciation for the work you and MRFF have taken on. You called me the following day and spoke to me for a few minutes and explained to me the MRFF mission and the reason for your passion to continue. That meant a lot to me then, and still does, especially so because I see the good that you and MRFF do for service members, their families, and ultimately – our country.

We’ve never met, but still I tend to consider you a friend – along with the other fine people at MRFF. I very well recognize that your broad and tireless support – protecting EVERYONE in uniform and their families – is critically important. Thank you again!

(name withheld)

P.S. I’ll be submitting my donation of support shortly. Cheers
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