Some are in a tizzy that the Trump administration rejected requests from U.S.
embassies around the world to fly the “rainbow pride” flag on their flagpoles
during LGBT Pride month this June, a reversal of the blanket approval the Obama
administration had granted the embassies. Long-standing State Department policy
dictates that embassies ask Washington for official permission to fly flags
other than the American Flag.
NBC News
reported that embassies in Brazil, Germany, Israel and Latvia were among those
denied permission to raise the LGBT banner, though it said the flag can—and
is—being flown both inside embassies and on exterior walls. Those accusing the
president of rank bigotry and intolerance need only look to his recent campaign
to decriminalize homosexuality worldwide. And to his tweet in recognition 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 on the basis of their sexual
orientation.”
ABC News
reported that, since Secretary of State Mike Pompeo didn’t approve an official
cable that is often returned with guidance on specifically how to mark LGBT
Pride month and International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHT),
embassies and consulates were free to mark both events however they wished,
though they were still required to seek approval for the LGBT flags to be
raised on their outside flag poles.
This should
be a non-story, a “nothing-burger” in today’s parlance. No flag other than the
Star-Spangled Banner should be allowed to wave from flagpoles of the nation’s
embassies. If the Pride flag goes up, why not a sequin-spangled banner
representing only feminine gay males? Or the Pansexual Pride flag? Or the
Two-Spirited flag? Or the Frotteurism Flag? Or a flag celebrating
Armenian-American bisexual, mulatto transvestites who were born on Thursdays?
Or a flag for Republicans of Polish descent who have erectile disfunction?
Or…get the point?
A country’s
embassies are supposed to officially and soberly represent that nation as a
whole to foreign lands, not serve as ad hoc billboards for special-interest
groups and sexual adventurers.
It is time
America quit balkanizing itself. And advertising it. There are only two flags
that should be allowed to fly on the flagpoles of our embassies: 1) the Flag of
the United States of America and 2) The Gadsden flag with the clear message,
“Don’t Tread On Me.”
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