In order to establish that the embassies were not violating any state department order, he shared a release by Morgan Deann Ortagus, the spokesperson for the department of state, who clarified that the “LGBTQ flag, the rainbow colours, the pennants, banners are not in violation of any kind of edict or order”. When asked whether embassies in India, South Korea, Nepal and many others were defying the US administration by choosing to don Pride colours, Greg Porter, the press officer of the US embassy in New Delhi, said “the Embassy Chancery, in accordance with Department of State guidelines, is illuminated in rainbow colors”. They did not raise the Pride Flag, they switched on the rainbow lights. The US embassy in India, like many others across the world, took the best of both messages from the US and chose an innovative way out. flag,” Porter further noted to the Blade.The gesture of flying the Pride flag had become routine in American diplomatic posts since 2011, when Hillary Clinton, then secretary of state, proclaimed in a landmark speech that “gay rights are human rights”. “In prior years the department has issued a blanket authorization or requested that posts request permission from Washington to fly a Pride flag from the same flagpole as the U.S. The flag, a symbol of gay people worldwide, is permitted to be displayed on the grounds and exterior walls of embassies. actually doesn’t require approval as well.” Several conservative members of Congress have signed onto a bill that would bar the flying of gay pride and Black Lives Matter flags at U.S. However, flying the flag from the same flagpole as the U.S. “Overseas facilities actually don’t require Washington approval. embassies, and expressed his support for the. “The department issues Pride guidance to our missions on a regular basis,” added Porter. Pence defends decision against Pride flags at embassies 00:26 Vice President Mike Pence confirmed reports that Pride flags had been banned from U.S. Blinken is committed to the rights and prosperity of our LGBTQ+ community, both our employees at State and all around the world,” said State Department spokesperson Jalina Porter on Friday in response to the Washington Blade’s question about Blinken’s cable during a press briefing with reporters.
The State Department has also disbanded the Commission on Unalienable Rights that LGBT activists sharply criticized. The United States respects the dignity and equality of LGBTQI+ people. Embassy to the Holy See celebrates PrideMonth with the Pride flag on display during the month of June. to promote LGBT rights abroad.īlinken is among the administration officials who publicly acknowledged the Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31. Embassy to the Holy See’s Twitter account tweeted a photo of a large gay pride flag hanging from the Italian building Tuesday with the caption: The U.S. President Biden in February issued a memorandum that committed the U.S. “So proud of our global leadership once again!” Three days into Pride Month, the month commemorating the 1969 Stonewall riots and celebrating gay pride, rainbow flags line the streets of America, waving from restaurants and bars, grocery stores. “As one of the constant supporters of Human Rights and LGBTQ rights throughout his life, President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken are showing the commitment to fighting for the rights of the marginalized around the globe,” Brewster told the Washington Blade. In a post to his Facebook page this Saturday, Christian evangelist Franklin Graham lamented the recent action by Secretary of State Antony J. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic James “Wally” Brewster - one of the openly gay men who served as ambassadors during the Obama administration - on Friday applauded Blinken’s decision. diplomatic and consular posts.”įormer U.S.
Georgia Congressman Jeff Duncan (R-Ga.) has introduced the Old Glory Only Act, which would “prohibit the flying of any flag other than the U.S.
embassies and consulates from flying the Pride flag on official flagpoles. The Trump administration in 2019 banned U.S. The New York Times and Foreign Policy reported they obtained a cable from Blinken that announced the policy. Embassy in Jamaica this month against the flying of an LGBT Pride flag, denouncing the action as an 'insult to our country. Embassy (Getty Images) Members of the Jamaican Coalition for a Healthy Society ( JCHS) protested outside the U.S. diplomatic installations to fly the Pride flag. Jamaicans Protest LGBT Pride Flag Flying at U.S. Three GOP lawmakers reportedly signed on to a Congressional bill that would prohibit U.S. (WB) Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said he will once again allow U.S. On the first day of Pride month, Republicans pushed to force embassies to return to the Trump-era ban on LGBTQ+ Pride flags.