US State Department bans pride and BLM flags at embassies and consulates

The United States will no longer fly pro-LGBT rainbow flags and Black Lives Matter flags at its embassies and consulates around the world.

Under President Donald Trump, the State Department, led…

The United States will no longer fly pro-LGBT rainbow flags and Black Lives Matter flags at its embassies and consulates around the world.

Under President Donald Trump, the State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, implemented the new flag policy.

Any American outpost can only fly one flag: the American flag. The new rule exempts flags with the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) emblem and the Wrongful Detainees flags.

“Starting immediately, only the United States of America flag is authorized to be flown or displayed at U.S. facilities, both domestic and abroad, and featured in U.S. government content,” the order says, according to The Washington Free Beacon.  

“The flag of the United States of America united all Americans under the universal principles of justice, liberty, and democracy. These values, which are the bedrock of our great country, are shared by all American citizens, past and present. … The U.S. flag is a powerful symbol of pride, and it is fitting and respectful that only the U.S. flag be flown or displayed at U.S. facilities, both domestically and abroad.” 

Those who violate the policy will “face disciplinary action, including termination of employment or contract, or reassignment to their home agency,” the order says. 

The order comes in response to the Biden administration’s promotion of the LGBT flag and the BLM flag. 

Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken crafted a policy in April 2021 that allowed U.S. embassies and consulates to fly the controversial flags on the same poles as the American flag. 

“According to the cable and a State Department official, Mr. Blinken authorized diplomats to fly the pride flag before May 17, which is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, and to continue their display at diplomatic outposts through the month of June,” The New York Times reported

In 2021, the U.S. embassy in Nassau, Barbados, “raised the rainbow Pride Flag to honor the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons in The Bahamas and around the world,” the State Department stated.  

“The widely recognized rainbow flag will fly from the flagpole of the U.S. Embassy in Downtown Nassau and at the Chief of Mission Residence on Sanford Road,” it added. 

Additionally, the U.S. embassy and consulates in Brazil raised the BLM flag in February 2022 to celebrate Black History Month. 

In June 2023, the Biden administration draped the White House with the LGBT pride flag to celebrate Pride Month. 

Many countries where the U.S. has embassies and consulates have more conservative views on LGBT issues than the United States. Under Trump, the government will no longer be used to promote such causes.