The State Department explained why they are not approving requests from U.S. embassies to fly the LGBT pride flag on flagpoles during Pride Month.
“The secretary has the position that, as it relates to the flagpole, that only the American flag should be flown there,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said Monday. “But he, of course … respects the dignity of every individual.”
Ortagus pointed to the multiple embassies that have flown the pride flag in other areas and said they are not in violation by doing so.
The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Turkey are proud to join people around the world in celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, & Intersex #PrideMonth. We reaffirm the U.S. commitment to defending human rights for all. ?️? #LGBTI #PrideMonth2019 #pride #loveislove pic.twitter.com/rtZrtcTsUt
— US Embassy Turkey (@USEmbassyTurkey) June 10, 2019
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
Under President Barack Obama, embassies were given blanket permission to fly pride flags during the month. The Trump administration has since altered the policy, requiring each embassy to get special permission to display the flag on the embassy flag pole.
The American embassies in Israel, Germany, Brazil, and Latvia each made a request this year and have been rejected.
“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,” U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, who is openly gay, said in a statement.
