“This is a great big fat ‘Oh, no,’” Anawalt said in reaction to Hegseth’s announcement. “We’re turning the clock back on rational healthcare. … I’m worried about the ethics. I’m worried about the health consequences. I’m worried about unnecessary evaluations, incorrect assessments, and incorrect diagnoses that lead to inappropriate prescriptions of testosterone.”
An over-fixation on “manliness” and “heroism” in the military is also standard fascism playbook. Everyone’s made up to be a hero for their country, no matter if true or not. This sort of propaganda-fueled glorification of soldiers and war maybe helps recruitment of future soldiers for whatever future war the fascists are going to start. That’s probably the only upside.
It also lets you shout down any criticism with “that man is a HERO how DARE you accuse him of anything”