international
GOP senator rages at Pete Hegseth for excluding Mormons from list of Christian sects: "Undo it."
By Daniel Villarreal at LGBTQ Nation
· June 8, 2026
· 1 min read
Mormon anti-LGBTQ+ Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) raged on social media after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth listed the Latter-day Saints as a religious sect separate from Christians on a newly revised list of military members' faiths. In a May 20 memo, the Department of Defense slashed the number of indiv
Key takeaway Mike Lee (R-UT) raged on social media after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth listed the Latter-day Saints as a religious sect separate from Christians on a newly revised list of military members' faiths.
Why this matters
The controversy surrounding the Department of Defense's revised list of military members' faiths highlights the complexities of religious identity and government recognition. Senator Mike Lee's outrage over the classification of Latter-day Saints as a separate religious sect from Christianity underscores the sensitivity of doctrinal disputes and the potential for government actions to be perceived as taking sides. The fact that the Pentagon's revision was intended to help military chaplains better serve troops' beliefs suggests that the issue is not merely one of semantics, but also of practical implications for religious accommodation and support. The swift response from Senators Lee and Curtis, both of whom are Mormon, demonstrates the political significance of this issue, particularly in states with large Mormon populations like Utah. As the situation unfolds, it will be important to watch how the Pentagon navigates the delicate balance between respecting religious diversity and avoiding perceived favoritism or marginalization of specific faiths.
About this story
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Category: international ·
Published: June 8, 2026 ·
Source: LGBTQ Nation ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Mormon anti-LGBTQ+ Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) raged on social media after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth listed the Latter-day Saints as a religious sect separate from Christians on a newly revised list of military members' faiths. In a May 20 memo, the Department of Defense slashed the number of indiv
When was this published? This article was first published on June 8, 2026 by LGBTQ Nation and curated for LGBTQ News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Daniel Villarreal at LGBTQ Nation. To learn more about how LGBTQ News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more international coverage from LGBTQ News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .