The Biden Administration has given embassies around the world the green light to display the LGBTQ Pride flag on the same pole as the Stars and Stripes.
Previously, in 2019, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denied embassies’ requests to fly the Pride flag alongside the US flag in a show of support for the LGBTQ community.
Reversing the Trump-era ruling, however, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has given US embassies across the globe the green light to fly the Pride flag on the same flagpole as the Stars and Stripes.
The move comes just weeks before the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, and just over a month before June, the Gay Pride month.
According to Blinken, embassies can now choose whether to fly the Pride flag or other “appropriate” symbols in a show of solidarity with the LGBTQ community.
While the Biden Administration gave diplomatic outposts around the world the permission to fly the Pride flag and other LGBTQ symbols similarly as the Obama Administration did, Blinken noted that such efforts could cause harm in some countries.
“Posts should support efforts to repeal [criminalization] legislation, while ensuring that ‘do no harm’ remains our overarching principle so US efforts do not inadvertently result in backlash or further marginalization of the LGBTQI+ community,” a cable obtained by ABC News read.
Blinken’s cable also noted that “as a matter of policy, the United States does not advocate for or against same-sex marriage abroad.”
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