“How Do You Make a Map Gay?”: Capitol Hill Hearing Exposes Controversial Biden-Era DEI Grants
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Washington DC, A bizarre and heated exchange on Capitol Hill has sparked a fierce debate over federal spending and the priorities of the U.S. State Department under the Biden administration. During a recent hearing, lawmakers questioned officials about a series of government-funded grants that aimed to “queer” maps—a revelation that has left many taxpayers and members of Congress questioning the oversight of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The Exchange: Defining “Queering the Map”
The controversy erupted when Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) questioned Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers regarding specific grant funding from the previous administration. When Mast asked for a definition of “queering the map,” Rogers acknowledged the initiative, which reportedly involved research grants for a dissertation focused on the LGBT community in Czechia and Slovakia.
“I think we were trying to make the maps more gay,” Rogers stated during the hearing, a remark she later appeared to offer as a clumsy attempt at humor.
The response left Rep. Mast visibly frustrated, as he pushed back on the practical application and necessity of such projects. “We do have real things to work on in Congress like what’s going on with the imminent threat of Iran, and it is embarrassing that we have to talk about the fact that things like this were funded,” Mast remarked.
DEI Initiatives Under Scrutiny
The “queering” of maps was not an isolated incident. During the hearing, Rep. Mast highlighted a broader pattern of DEI-focused programming funded during the Biden administration, including:
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Linguistic Re-engineering: Programs designed to introduce “non-binary and trans” concepts into the French language to minimize gendered structures in Montreal, Canada.
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Global Diversity Projects: Reports of various DEI-focused programs and “diversity roadshows” funded in countries including Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Spain, New Zealand, India, and Malaysia.
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Grant Transparency: Mast has officially requested documentation and the identification of the individuals responsible for writing these grants, stating they have “no business receiving another paycheck from the people of the United States of America.”
Future Outlook: A Shift in Diplomacy Priorities
In the aftermath of the hearing, Undersecretary Rogers addressed the controversy directly, offering apologies to the nations involved. She signaled a significant shift in departmental strategy, promising that future public diplomacy grants will be:
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Streamlined: Reducing bureaucratic bloat and focusing on core national interests.
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Accountable: Implementing stricter oversight on how taxpayer dollars are allocated.
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Refocused: Channeling resources toward “real American interests,” such as sports diplomacy and the protection of free speech.
As Congress continues to demand transparency, this hearing marks a turning point in the ongoing national conversation regarding the scope of federal DEI spending and the standard of accountability for government-funded cultural projects.
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Shaking my head. Is the whole wokeness and dei crap ever going to go away?? It’s all BS
Are we ever gonna get back to normal? Enough of dei and wokeness already!
I love it when I have a picture of the police. She’s standing next to the pride flag up at the park, really, and do you remember when the ex police chief took a knee, so embarrassing that was so politically motivated. I don’t give a shit when anyone says.