Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro Tells Gay Chaplain and MRFF Client that Homosexuality is a Choice During Online Town Hall
del-toro-townhall
During an online town hall with Navy Chaplains and Religious Program Specialists (RPs), Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro responded to a question from LTJG Cory Newell, a gay Navy Chaplain and MRFF client, who asked how he plans to make the Navy and its Chaplain Corp less homophobic.
Secretary Del Toro’s response, which “devastated” Newell, and led 13 other Chaplains and RPs to come to MRFF, was:
“So, my message to you is have faith, understand that the battles you face, challenges you face… are not easy, they are defined by your choice to be homosexual. And that we have to work together and have hope. That we will continue to make progress in time.”
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- April 20, 2026 | 2 comments
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As above, so below.
As long as military leaders continue to believe sexual attraction is a choice their followers will continue to bully anyone not viewed as conforming.
So much work and so much resistance from humans too used to the comforts their power provides.
Time to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.
What’s the deal with people who choose to come out of homosexualty? Are they lying? Were they ever gay in the first place?
Anytime someone says that homosexuality is a choice I like to ask them at what age did they make that conscience decision for themselves to be heterosexual and what made them decide to be straight instead of gay. They’ll usually start sputtering about how they didn’t decide, it’s just the way they are and even that they were born this way. I will then reply that given the way that homosexuals, throughout history, have been persecuted, ostracized, jailed and even killed just for being gay why would anyone ever deliberately choose to be that way? Isn’t more likely that, just like you, they have no choice, it’s just the way they are and they were born that way? It’s kind of fun to watch the light bulb go on in their brains. Then you can have a more rational and reasonable discussion about why some people are “different” (gay, bi, trans, non binary, etc).
“Time to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted!” Going to remember that one!
Have to ask why the vitriol against gays? I think a lot of them are insecure about their own sexuality and are afraid they’re going to “catch it!”
God may be gay! Or, at minimum, bisexual. Single, never married, hangs out with Saints (84% of all Saints are male).
All the Angels that appear in the Bible are men! Remember the two Angels in Sodom that the villagers wanted to have a bit of fun with? Lott gave them his two daughters instead, much to villagers obvious disappointment! Lott goes on to later have sex with those same two daughters.
The Bible ought to be banned from public school libraries! We can’t have our children exposed to that filth! :-)
if you look at Leviticus, only prohibitions against heterosexual pairings are given, not same sex pairings – interesting.
Those yelling the loudest and legislating against gay rights are usually closeted gay themselves! And usually hold themselves up as “family values” legislators.
I’m not sure what to make of the Sec of the Navy’s remarks. At that level, he knows his words are scrutinized. Dunno. Unless he has a history of fostering an environment that directs/exhibits discriminatory treatment/impact against gay personnel……
He doesn’t have to be told his word choices are very important. Not sure – watch him, if he shows a pattern of discriminatory treatment/impact, act.
Ironmoped,
“He doesn’t have to be told his word choices are very important. Not sure – watch him, if he shows a pattern of discriminatory treatment/impact, act.”
When someone says sexuality is a choice (❤️ the question as to when a human chose to be heterosexual) there is no longer any doubt. In my opinion the main reason for blatant homophobia in the ranks is due to cues received from leadership.
I didn’t come up with the afflicted quote but like you once I found it I remembered. Glad I could share excellent words.
i didn’t give it a lot of thought, I’m sure you’re right.
I absolutely believe leadership sets the tone, with you there.
I should have stayed out of it, I really don’t know enough about it.
But, you’re right, he IS the senior leader in the Navy – he should know better!
All the best!
When does a person become a thief? When does a person become a liar?
There is nothing “natural” about homosexual behavior. The “persecuted through the ages” reasoning is bogus – we execute murderers, but people still murder.
It is good to see someone in the military has a bit of truth they are willing to share. May God help us all realize He has condemned sodomy – He gave sex to humans as a blessing and told us how to see that blessing – one man, one woman, with the bond of marriage – for this cause shall a man leave father and mother.
Lust is what drives humankind to perverted sex. Love is what drives humankind to self-control and commitment to one partner. Lust is a powerful force – but still a blessing when used with in self-control and God’s will. Love is the way to go.
Thank God for people who tell you the truth. Check your hearts – you know this is truth – now act properly, change your ways if you are doing wrong things.
John, you are misinformed. And (this is rich) you stated your holy book states one man one woman?
Oh, my sides. I’m laughing so hard right now.
I love it when Nationalist Christians reveal they have not read their holy book without saying such a thing.
One man, one woman. Hooo, that’s a good one.
If you watch the full 7 minutes of SECNAV’s answer, I don’t know how you can come away thinking that SECNAV is not supportive of the LGBTQ community. In my opinion, the quote was taken out of context and he misspoke.
I’m sorry if this Chaplain has experienced discrimination in the few months he has served in the Chaplain Corps. I hope he’ll have a better experience when he actually checks in to his first unit.
Naylen, there is support and then there is “because it’s the rules I don’t happen to agree with” support.
Guess which column the SECNAV falls in? (It’s a rhetorical question)
The two gentleman looking at each other as they oh so carefully chose their words and yet they still managed to stumble into revealing their bias.
Here’s what I heard “Look kids, we’ve come so far from the days where we shoved you into a closet because acknowledging your existence was so hard!!!! Isn’t now better where we let you be LGBTQA+ and we get to be open with our homophobia and Nationalist Christianity?”
That’s what I heard from the two old white guys. When I know better I do better. These guys aren’t even trying.
Grey
First off, the SECNAV isn’t a white guy. He’s Cuban…..
I’m glad you were able to ‘hear what you wanted to hear’ however, you could take what he said, and the way he said it, at face value instead of listening through selective ears.
To provide more context that other ‘white guy’ called on this Chaplain to ask his question to the SECNAV after posting it in the chat twice before he was called on. I’m sure if he had those ‘homophobic Christian Nationalist’ intentions, do you think he would’ve called on Chaplain Newell? I don’t think so.
I am an unabashed atheist and liberal, but I truly don’t see how this is viewed as other than stirring unnecessary controversy.
So Naylen, what are your bona fides because on the internet everyone could be a dog.
I heard what I heard because it’s been said before. Choice. He said homosexuality is a choice.
Of course you didn’t hear it. It doesn’t affect you. Your rights to be a citizen or a service person like all your neighbors aren’t a legislative hot potato or newsie talking point.
As for selective ears, aren’t we all just the sum of our experiences?
Gay? Negative. Homosexual or, Queer. No, you may be a happy homosexual, or a slap-happy queer, but I will never call you gay. I’m still scratching my head over how these disgusting sick, evil Dingle-Berrys managed to get so many people to go along with calling them this. Not me or my wife or any of our friends. And thank God, we have a preacher that preaches against this sin.
You can love the homosexual if you like, but Christians are told to pray, for them to come out of there sin. Just like all other sinful addictions. The gambler / swinger = wife husband swapping etc etc. addiction takes many forms. And no, I don’t reply to idiotic, comments. And taunting doesn’t work on me. Because people that taught others, I put them in the same boat with incorrigibly belligerent brats.
Garland Remington III stomps into the comment section, has the effrontery to determine how others are supposed to define themselves based on their well defined bias, and then fluffs off because “taunting doesn’t work on me”.
OoohhhKaaaaay……