U.S. Embassies in Germany, Israel, Brazil, and Latvia were all denied permission from the U.S. State Department under the Trump administration to fly the rainbow pride flag on their flagpoles.
The decision from the State Department shows a departure from the Obama administration’s blanket support of Pride flags which allowed embassies to fly the LGBT+ flag in previous years.
In response, embassies will be flying banners and flags on the front of their buildings and on the grounds of their embassy, which is allowed without permission. Special permission is only required to fly flags on flagpoles.
Some will also outright ignore the decision from the state department.
This news comes after Donald Trump recently tweeted in support of Pride month.
As we celebrate LGBT Pride Month and recognize the outstanding contributions LGBT people have made to our great Nation, let us also stand in solidarity with the many LGBT people who live in dozens of countries worldwide that punish, imprison, or even execute individuals….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2019
It is no question that this move from the administration has some questioning the extent to which Donald Trump actually supports LGBT+ rights and freedoms around the world. LGBT+ media organization GLAAD took to Twitter to question the integrity of the president’s words:
Remember last week when @realDonaldTrump was pretending to celebrate #PrideMonth? 🤔 https://t.co/kTkWSvTMOO
— GLAAD (@glaad) June 7, 2019
Regardless of actions from the state department, U.S. embassies are taking extra steps to ensure that their support of Pride and LGBT+ people globally is made clear.
In Nepal, ambassador Randy Berry tweeted a photo which included balloons that spelled out ‘PRIDE 19’ and depicted embassy staff dressed in all colours of the rainbow.
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
— U.S. Ambassador Dean R. Thompson (@USAmbNepal) June 1, 2019
US officials in Chennai created a video of themselves raising the pride flag on their building.
The US Embassy in India has chosen to creatively display Pride colors by shining them on the walls of the embassy.
The United States Embassy in New Delhi is lit up in #Pride colors to celebrate #PrideMonth. #LGBTPrideMonth pic.twitter.com/v6gxzAps8a
— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) June 4, 2019
The US Embassy in Seoul has also chosen to fly a pride flag this June.
The move from the Trump Administration has the world questioning its support of pride and LGBT+ people, specifically the administration’s campaign to end the criminalization of homosexuality around the world, but embassies have taken it upon themselves to protest the decision and spread pride around the world through various outlets.
© 2019 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
Support GCN
GCN has been a vital, free-of-charge information service for Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community since 1988.
During this global COVID pandemic, we like many other organisations have been impacted greatly in the way we can do business and produce. This means a temporary pause to our print publication and live events and so now more than ever we need your help to continue providing this community resource digitally.
GCN is a registered charity with a not-for-profit business model and we need your support. If you value having an independent LGBTQ+ media in Ireland, you can help from as little as €1.99 per month. Support Ireland’s free, independent LGBTQ+ media.
comments. Please sign in to comment.