Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla) baffled the head of the Air Force Academy during a hearing on race and gender-based admissions practices at military colleges and universities.
The Republican questioned Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark regarding eligibility guidelines open to Air Force cadets and other Americans, which used terms such as" agender" and "demigender."
"You're literally pushing a program in the academies that says, 'If you're a cisgender woman, a transgender woman, a non-binary, agender, bigender, two-spirit, demi gender…' What’s ‘demigender’?" Gaetz asked.
In response, Clark said that the term is defined as someone who looks at their gender differently than others.
"Well, sure. That's all of these people. You're a cisgender man; you don't even get to apply. Do you know what 'demi gender' really means?" Gaetz asked.
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The lieutenant, however, was left speechless, unable to answer Gaetz's question.
"I'm not really sure, sir," Clark said, adding that he also does not know what "agender" meant.
"Right. So, here we are, pushing a fellowship calling for people that you don't even know what the words mean," Gaetz said, referring to the Brooke Owens fellowship open to "women and gender-minority students in aerospace."
Gaetz pointed out that cisgender men are excluded— the largest group. He argued that the number one group of service members should not be left out of the fellowship in the name of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
As the tense exchange grew, Clark claimed it is not an Air Force Academy program but one that students can apply for "because it's an opportunity for us to develop them as warfighters."
According to the website, "If you are a cisgender woman, a transgender woman, non-binary, agender, bigender, two-spirit, demi gender, genderfluid, genderqueer, or another form of gender minority, this program is for you."
