John has a social media account for friends and family. Over the years, he has posted about his Christian beliefs. John has posted commonsense ideas such as boys should not be allowed in girls’ restrooms and showers; pornography should not be allowed in public school libraries; and drag shows have no place in public schools.

These posts were made on John’s personal account and in his personal capacity. And they were never derogatory, simply a reflection of commonsense parenting based on a Christian worldview. His posts did not mention the military or LGBTQ in the military.

John is committed to serving those under his command, regardless of political or religious views, and his long service to our country proves he would give his life in defense of his state, nation, and fellow military members.

But a homosexual complained about having a Christian as a commander. Now John is being forced out of the military.

In 2023, a subordinate officer who identifies as homosexual complained to John’s chain of command, claiming that the posts John made on his own personal social media account made the subordinate officer feel “uncomfortable” and “unsafe.”

John never discussed his Christian views and beliefs about LGBTQ issues with this subordinate officer or anyone else in his command. Instead, the officer’s complaint was SOLEY based on John’s personal social media posts.

Yet the subordinate officer claimed that John’s posts created a “hostile work environment.” The subordinate officer claimed that John’s views were aligned with “hate groups” and “extremists.”

Following the complaint, the Idaho Army National Guard removed John from his command, citing an Obama-era policy that labels Christians as “extremists.”

The military’s actions are nothing short of religious discrimination. We will not let this stand! Help us defend our defenders today.

On November 27, 2009, the Obama administration updated the DOD’s policies to rid the military of Christians.

U.S. Department of Defense Issuance (DoDI) 1325.06, titled “Handling Protest, Extremist, and Criminal Gang Activities Among Members of the Armed Forces,” unjustly labels Christians as “extremists” who need to be removed from military service.

Even though John never once used his professional capacity to promote his Christian views on homosexuality or transgenderism, John’s chain of command declared his personal social media posts to be “extremist.”

John won’t be the last Christian removed from the military if we do not win this case.

The Idaho Army National Guard investigating officer formally recommended that ALL full-time National Guard members’ social media accounts be thoroughly “scrutinized” for Christian viewpoints.

The investigating officer recommended that all service members found to have Christian viewpoints on their personal social media be reported to the DOD Counterintelligence and Insider Threat Hub for adjudication as extremists.

Fifteen years after Barack Obama embarked on his quest to reform the U.S. military, Christians are being slowly eliminated from our armed forces.

The Idaho Army National Guard and the DOD’s policy have violated the First Amendment, the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Idaho Constitution.

For three long years during COVID, Liberty Counsel fought for Christian military members the Biden-Harris administration sought to remove from duty. We won. And we intend to win now. But we need YOUR help.

Every donation made to our legal fund today will be DOUBLED in impact by a special Challenge Grant.

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Mat Staver
Founder and Chairman
Liberty Counsel