“As the president said on the night we were elected, we’re proud to be able to serve every American. Blinken notified diplomatic posts worldwide of the change. US missions were permitted, however, to still brandish pride-related items elsewhere.Īsked about the move during an interview with NBC News, then-Vice President Mike Pence defended the administration’s policy as one that promotes a united American people. In 2019, the department, then under the leadership of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, blocked embassies’ requests to fly the flag on the same pole as the American flag. Pride flags can now be flown at the discretion of chiefs in charge of the diplomatic mission. The move is yet another policy that President Biden is undoing of former President Trump’s administration. The move comes ahead of International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on May 17. Instead, chiefs of mission will be given the ability to “determine that such a display is appropriate in light of local conditions,” Blinken said.
The nation’s top diplomat said in the cable that the flag, which is flown to symbolize support and pride for the LGBTQ community, will not be required to be added to the flagpole in front of each mission. News of the authorization was first revealed by Foreign Policy magazine, which reported on a confidential cable sent by Blinken to diplomatic posts worldwide authorizing the policy change. Secretary of State Tony Blinken has authorized US diplomatic missions to fly the LGBTQ pride flag on the same pole as the American flag at embassies and consulates, a department official confirmed to The Post Friday. NY pols want Manhattan venue to cancel relocated Gov. ‘Libs of TikTok’ locked out by Twitter over posts about kids at drag shows Rufus Wainwright on Judy Garland at 100 and why she’s the ultimate gay icon Parents of Texas trans teens sue state to stop child abuse investigations