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# Netflix’s gay military drama 'Boots' branded “woke garbage” by Pentagon
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/netflixs-gay-military-drama-boots-branded-woke-garbage-by-pentagon/
- Published: 2025-10-17T08:53:34.000Z
- Updated: 2025-10-17T08:53:54.000Z
- Author: Graham Robson
- Tags: News

The **U.S. Department of Defense** has sparked controversy after publicly denouncing Netflix’s hit drama *Boots*, a coming-of-age series centred on a gay teenager navigating life in the Marine Corps during the 1990s. The Pentagon branded the show “woke garbage,” prompting backlash from LGBTQ+ advocates and fans of the series.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/2025/10/boots-2.jpg)

In a statement issued to *Entertainment Weekly*, Pentagon Press Secretary **Kingsley Wilson** criticised the show’s portrayal of military life, saying: “Under President **Trump** and Secretary Hegseth, the U.S. military is getting back to restoring the warrior ethos. Our standards are elite, uniform, and sex-neutral. We will not compromise those standards to satisfy an ideological agenda, unlike Netflix, whose leadership consistently produces and feeds woke garbage to their audience and children.”

*Boots*, which premiered on **9 October**, stars **Miles Heizer** as Cameron Cope, a closeted high school senior who enlists in the Marines alongside his straight best friend. The series is based on **Greg Cope White**’s memoir *The Pink Marine*, and explores themes of identity, resilience, and belonging under the shadow of the now-defunct “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/2025/10/AAAAQWsoRQWkM-jnVskyfxyJZcf6Bw-j39mSddLxjFXGkvtYXf1Zbbk2kyQ8kLujS-AKDEPSSfIJbvqnha6KcISnVzKysab4gthUXvJUvOFk8acU0NcUHVfsMmEGMQBeNo73E1qo87mkTcDumKFsLfmXUx45.jpg)

Despite the Pentagon’s condemnation, *Boots* has received widespread acclaim, topping Netflix’s streaming charts and earning a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 

The criticism comes amid broader efforts by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to roll back LGBTQ+ visibility in the military. Earlier this year, Hegseth supported the removal of **Harvey Milk**’s name from a Navy ship and backed Executive Order 14183, which mandates the discharge of transgender service members.

Netflix has not yet responded to the Pentagon’s remarks, but the show’s creators have defended *Boots* as a celebration of authenticity and courage. “We believe that authentic storytelling can help bridge gaps and foster understanding,” a Netflix spokesperson said.