US Embassies Banned From Flying LGBTQ Pride Flag

Facts

• A provision that limits which flags are permitted to fly over US Department of State facilities, which was included in the $1.2T spending bill that passed Saturday, has effectively banned embassies from flying LGBTQ Pride Flags.¹
• This reverses a State Department authorization issued in 2021 [under Secretary Antony Blinken] for US diplomatic missions worldwide to display pride flags. Additionally, the bill shuts down the non-partisan House Office of Diversity.²
• Pride flags, which were first flown at US embassies during the Obama administration, have reportedly been a source of controversy between Republicans and Democrats. In 2019, the Trump administration banned them.³
• On Sunday, the White House pledged to work to repeal this provision, reaffirming its commitment to LGBTQ rights and highlighting its success in preventing the inclusion of over 50 other alleged anti-LGBTQ policies.⁴

Sources: ¹The Hill, ²Forbes, ³FOX News and ⁴CNN.

Narratives

• Democratic narrative, as provided by The Pinknews. It was inappropriate for Republican lawmakers to include policies targeting LGBTQ Americans in this government spending bill that was necessary to keep the government running. Inclusion and LGBTQ equality are key issues for the Biden Administration, and the White House will continue its efforts to repeal this ban on flying Pride flags at US embassies.
• Republican narrative, as provided by Florida Phoenix. Pride flags have no place being flown above US Embassies. As any other government building, diplomatic missions should display only official flags, instead of promoting ideologies such as the LGBTQ agenda. This ban doesn't limit personal expression or attack any identity group but rather emphasizes that taxpayer dollars should not be used to promote political speech.

Predictions