American diplomats are shocked: Trump has banned the display of LGBT flags at embassies
The US administration has banned the placement of rainbow flags in honor of pride month, celebrated by the LGBT community, on the official flagpoles of its embassies around the world, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
NBC News reports this with reference to three diplomats. Two senior State Department officials also told CNN this information.
Embassy officials must seek permission from the State Department if they want to display anything other than the American flag on flagpoles. According to NBC News, permission to display the LGBT flag was requested by the US embassies in Israel, Germany, Brazil and Latvia. They were refused.
It is noted that the authorities prohibited the placement of flags only on official flagpoles, however, diplomatic mission employees can place them in any other place, including the interior and external walls of the building.
A diplomat at the American embassy in Berlin told CNN that LGBT flags were previously allowed to be flown. In addition, he added, this year the flag was going to be hung for only a week, during which events in the capital would last. American Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell said the building will have a large banner instead of a flag and the embassy will host many events during Pride Month. Grenell is the first openly gay person to serve as US ambassador.
At the end of May, US President Donald Trump tweeted about the beginning of the celebration of Pride Month (celebrated in June) and called for celebrating the contribution of representatives of the LGBT community to the development of the country. He also wrote about solidarity with gay people, who are persecuted and even executed in dozens of countries.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.