Tucked in the massive government funding package signed Saturday by President Biden is a provision banning the flying of LGBTQ Pride flags over U.S. embassies. But even on the same day Mr. Biden signed the package, the White House vowed to work toward repealing the provision.
The prohibition was one of many side issues included in the mammoth $1.2 trillion package to fund the government through September, which passed early Saturday shortly after a midnight deadline.
As Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, a conservative Christian, scrambled for votes to get the bill passed in his chamber, he allegedly touted the Pride flag ban as a reason his party should support the bill, the Daily Beast reported.
The White House said Saturday it would seek to find a way to repeal the ban on flying the rainbow flag, which celebrates the movement for LGBTQ equality.
"Biden believes it was inappropriate to abuse the process that was essential to keep the government open by including this policy targeting LGBTQI+ Americans," a White House statement said, adding that the president "is committed to fighting for LGBTQI+ equality at home and abroad."
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
Does the prohibition of the Pride flag at U.S. embassies align with your understanding of freedom of expression?
@9L47G9J2mos2MO
I think it’s an interesting test case for flag freedom and raises important questions that should be discussed about freedom and iconography. It also addresses moral equivalence and fashionable views and holds these more important than history, I wonder why?
@9L46BXT2mos2MO
Why are we attcking a sign of love and inclusion?
@9L4DRJR2mos2MO
No, anyone should be able to express themselves as they choose
@9L4D3LW2mos2MO
No, this violates the 1st amendment by not allowing free speech on government land and property by individual citizens through a government law (act).
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
In your opinion, what message does banning the Pride flag from embassies send to the LGBTQ community and its allies?
I believe it continues to prove to LGBTQ people in the United States that their wellbeing does not matter to the government running this country.
@9L4BT562mos2MO
Only the flag of the Nation of the Embassy and the nation it is in should be flown, any others are disrespectful
@9L49823 2mos2MO
Only the country flag belongs on the enbay
@9L49NJSConstitution2mos2MO
Your cult doesn't belong in governments
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
@BrainyHeronGreen2mos2MO
How fragile Republicans are that they fear a Pride flag.
@VoleVioletMountain2mos2MO
Would you say Democrats "fear" the Christian flag if they opposed it flying on all our embassies?
@BrainyHeronGreen2mos2MO
please refer to the first amendment of the constitution.
@OryxLarryRepublican2mos2MO
No movement flag should fly at an embassy regardless of the movement.
I’m not sure what’s more pathetic, the fact that this was worth holding the government hostage over for conservatives, or that Biden and the liberals were cool with it.
@EqualityMacawRepublican2mos2MO
The pride flag does not represent all Americans, so it does not belong on our embassies. Obviously.
It is no different than if we flew a Christian flag alongside the American flag.
The pride flag doesn't even represent all gay people, myself included.
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