Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently announced
that the Biden administration has given blanket authorization allowing U.S.
embassies and consulates around the world to fly LGBT
pride flags …on the same official flag poles that fly the Star-Spangled
Banner. Yes, the “rainbow” flag — a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender pride — will henceforth be permitted to proudly wave from the very same
staffs that display the American flag.
Blinken sent out a cable reversing his predecessor’s
policy and granting "blanket written authorization ... to display the
Pride flag on the external-facing flagpole, for the duration of the 2021 Pride
season," according to a report by ABC News. The authorization came five
weeks before Pride Month is celebrated in June and about three weeks before the
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHTB) on May
17th.
It is in no way homophobic, transphobic or biphobic to
note that the American flag itself is supposed to represent all Americans,
regardless of race, gender or sexual preference. Blinken would never think of
allowing a “Proud Boys” flag to grace the same official pole as Old Glory. Nor should
he. There is no reason to do so, much as there is no need to fly a White Pride,
Heterosexual Pride or Christian Pride flag at U.S. diplomatic facilities around
the globe. It would be just as ridiculous to allow an AFL-CIO banner, a Dallas
Cowboys pennant or a streamer proclaiming “Electricians Do It Better” to share
space with the flag that symbolizes the nation to which so many gave the last
full measure of devotion.
Don’t like traditional gender roles or sexual
preferences? We’re all happy for you. But many of the rest of us have some
pride, too. And dignity.
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