Leaders condemn removal of San Diego Navy director after Defense Secretary Hegseth social media post
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Navy Director of Medical Services Dr. Janelle Marra was removed from leadership after a conservative influencer criticized Marra’s social media profile.
Marra was part of the Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) in San Diego and has been a clinical assistant professor at Uniformed Services University of The Health Sciences. In her academic role, she has presented nationally on LGBTQ+ healthcare and has had eight peer reviewed publications.
She was recently released from her leadership duties in Navy Medical Services after her social media profile caught the attention of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The California LGBTQ Caucus responded to this decision on Wednesday and is calling for the Department of Defense to reverse its decision.
“We strongly condemn the removal of Commander Janelle Marra, an LGBTQ+ Navy doctor and decorated leader serving in San Diego, based on nothing more than her health care specialty and inclusion of pronouns on her LinkedIn social media profile,” the caucus stated in a news release.
This comes after a conservative social media account with over 4 million followers, “Libs of TikTok,” posted a screenshot of Marra’s LinkedIn profile which featured her pronouns and her interest in transgender healthcare.
“Apparently a medical director for ‘transgender healthcare’ at a Naval center in California Can you please look into this?” the post on X, formerly known as Twitter, states.
On Sept. 4, the same day as the original post, Hegseth replied to the post stating, “Pronouns UPDATED: She/Her/Fired.”
After serving in active duty for 17 years, Marra has been removed from her leadership role and is under investigation for her social media, according to reporting by The San Diego Union Tribune.
The California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus said the removal was a targeted decision, citing President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people in the military. The group said Hegseth’s post is beneath the dignity of his office.
“It is a cruel, cowardly act that undermines morale, trust, and military readiness,” the caucus said.
“We call on the Department of Defense to reverse this harmful action, reinstate Commander Marra to her position, and reaffirm its commitments to protecting all service members from discrimination,” the caucus added. "Our military and our country are stronger when everyone can serve with dignity, not fear.”
