Robert Pratt
The most common and reasonable defense of Michael Bob Starr’s active participation in homosexual “pride” events as base commander at Dyess Air Force Base is that the current Air Force culture almost required him to be an active backer as opposed to simply overseeing the events and ensuring non-discrimination. [1, 2, 3, 4]
This reasoning from supporters ignores the issue of a leader caving on deeply held principles just to please superiors. (Starr, for his part, has fully defended his participation in the homosexual “pride” events including in an interview on Pratt on Texas.)
The excusing of Starrs’ promotion of homosexual-themed events on base loses credibility when you read that he had no problem defying command on other issues as is documented in this story: Air-force bases; Catch-2015, The Economist, 19 Sept. 2015.
“Bravely, he has chosen to simply disobey some regulations which he says tie up staff pointlessly—such as one that insists that security guards should receive the same training twice,” the story reports.
This contradiction demonstrates the weakness of the excuses being made for his decision to promote the LGBTQ “pride” events on his base.
And while overall the story is very complimentary of Starr and would make most TX19 voters quite proud of his service, one cannot overlook the glaring contradiction: He was willing to “disobey some regulations” but was quite happy to go all-in for homosexual “pride” events to the extent of becoming an active participant.
one cannot overlook the glaring contradiction: He was willing to “disobey some regulations” but was quite happy to go all-in for homosexual “pride” events to the extent of becoming an active participant.
This contradiction demonstrates the weakness of the excuses being made for his decision to promote the homosexual LGBTQ “pride” events on his base.
Reasonable people can conclude that while he is a smart leader willing to defy command on some issues, he must have also had no problem whatsoever supporting the homosexual lifestyle and its mainstreaming in military service.
I believe Starr’s support for the LGBT events on Dyess is not about supporting the movement or lifestyle.
His support of these events was to show his support for the Airmen. The people under his command need to know that they have his support and can rely on him to support their needs. If a subordinate does not believe their leader supports their needs then the commanders ability to lead falls apart. The commanders subordinates will not fully support his policies, directives or mission vision.
Leadership in the military does not require promoting one lifestyle over another, it requires leaders who support the people under them. As a leader, I must understand and support the needs of the people under me. Then I know when we are deployed they will do their job and we will accomplish the mission.
I have been active duty Air Force for 14 years. Col. Starr is the only commander that has made a positive impact on me. In everything I saw him do or heard him say I knew that the people under his command were his number one priority. He worked to make our lives better and succeeded in making Dyess a better place.
When I’m retired and my time in the Air Force is a distant memory. Col. Starr is the only commander who I will actually remember.