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In case you missed it, it’s Gay Pride Month. Because it’s Pride Month, four US embassies around the world requested permission to fly the rainbow pride flag on flagpoles. The Trump administration put the kibosh on that, although embassies are permitted to display the flag on embassy grounds, such as the inside of the building or on exterior walls.
But once again the media distort what really happened.
The Hill reports as its headline, “Some US embassies fly rainbow flag despite rejected requests from Trump admin.” Newsweek‘s headline reads, “U.S. Embassies Display Pride Flag, Despite Trump Administration Advisory Against It.” Finally, the Washington Post had this headline: “Some U.S. Embassies still hoisting rainbow flags, despite new policy.”
Man the ramparts, the rainbow troops are mounting an insurrection! I can practically hear choruses from Les Miserables!
Except the media, once again, are not presenting the facts correctly.
It’s true that the embassies were not given permission to fly the rainbow flag on their flagpoles with the American flag. However, as noted above, they did receive permission to display the flag in an alternative manner.
For example, the embassy in Seoul, South Korea, worked within the parameters of the guidelines by placing a large rainbow flag on the exterior of the building. Per regulation, it is not flying from a flagpole.
The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai also placed its flag on the building’s exterior, and produced this video.
The U.S. Embassy in India projected rainbow lights on the exterior of their building, which they used on their Twitter page.
Screenshot of U.S. Embassy India @ Twitter.
Here’s a post from Ambassador Randy Berry, the US ambassador to Nepal.
Today, along with the U.S. Mission in Nepal community, I join people around the world in celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, & Intersex #PrideMonth, and reaffirm the U.S. commitment to defending human rights for all. #Pride2019 pic.twitter.com/5awKWtcP80
— Ambassador Randy Berry (@USAmbNepal) June 1, 2019
The embassies from Chile and Austria, however, do show rainbow flags on flagpoles, but the images are from May 17 for the (deep breath) “International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia 2019.” I don’t know if the flags are still flying on the flagpoles.
Moreover, Richard Grenell of the US Embassy in Berlin, an openly gay member of the Trump administration, said this:
“The President’s recognition of Pride Month and his tweet encouraging our decriminalization campaign gives me even more pride to once again march in the Berlin Pride parade, hang a huge banner on the side of the Embassy recognizing our pride, host multiple events at the Embassy and the residence, and fly the gay pride flag.”
The Trump administration, despite the frenzied headlines, obviously doesn’t have a problem with displaying gay pride. But this year it made two new stipulations: first, the flag requests must receive higher level approval from the State Department. Secondly, as noted above, the flags cannot fly on a flagpole with the American flag. What’s the problem?
Never mind that President Trump is the first Republican president to honor Pride Month with a statement, or that his administration has appointed several gay ambassadors. It’s never good enough. Said an activist who has held various diplomatic postings:
“Day by day, a death by a thousand cuts, our rights as lgbt+ Americans are being eroded with the removal of a guidance here, the rewriting of a policy there, or just the quiet disappearance of a web site.”
Oh stop. You’re killin’ me, Smalls.
Credit: giphy.
But more importantly, I ask you this:
Why should any special interest group have the right to fly their flag with the American flag at an embassy?
Should we also fly the flags of, for instance, environmental groups? Or soccer teams? Or flags that say Choose Life? Could you imagine the outrage with that?
So how about this: we leave embassy flagpoles only for Old Glory. No other non-state flag should fly there. In the meantime, maybe the media could get their information straight, and stop making the Trump administration to be some draconian regime from the Dark Ages.
Featured image: LexnGer @ flickr/cropped/CC BY-NC 2.0.
CaptDMO says: And now you know.
All matters that are deemed to fall under a “rainbow flag” are distinctly separate issues than
may fall under the Flag of The United States of America.
Like….and afterthought.
GLAD we cleared THAT up!
As that flag is so divisive to a large part of American society, It’s offensive that it flies at all on embassy (or any governmental agency) property as if it reflects the will of the American people.
jack says: The will of 70 % of the US citizens says go fly it. “The will of the people” is not a a catch-all for discrimination.
GRA says: Choosing not to fly it is not discrimination. 70% of the US citizens actually never said “go fly it” since approval of sodomy doesn’t imply go fly the Pride Flag.
Jack, you read into things that aren’t there.
GWB says: No other non-state flag should fly there.
They shouldn’t “fly” ANYWHERE in an official capacity. PERIOD. The gov’t should ideally never endorse any political campaign. (And, yes, the homosexual movement IS a political campaign. As is every ‘campaign’ coming out of the U.N. or the progressive/globalist movement.)
Mary Anne Borg says: A small representation of the community has sooooo much pull. Should be a flag for women, many more of those, and another for men, plus one for the children, one for each ethnic community, American Indian Nations etc. Where will it stop!.
Martin McAllen says: How about this: every state’s flag shall be flown at all US Embassies and consulates on the date of their ratifying the Constitution or admission to the Union.
This would blow so many minds that only the gallant ones, the US Marines, could actually deal with the situation (the Navy would, of course, assume responsibility and claim credit (ex-Nav guy here).
David Longfellow says: Surprise! The media distorts the facts!
If they aren’t promoting leftist drivel, they aren’t doing their jobs, so the truth be damned.
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