Hidden inside the huge Government financial aid package A provision signed by President Biden on Saturday bans the display of the LGBTQ pride flag over U.S. embassies. But even on the same day Biden signed the package, the White House vowed to work toward repealing the provision.
The ban is one of many ancillary issues included in a massive $1.2 trillion package to fund the government through September, which was announced early Saturday just after a midnight deadline. It was approved.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, a conservative Christian, is said to have touted a pride flag ban as a reason why his party should support the bill as he fought for votes to pass the bill, The Daily Beast reported.
The White House announced Saturday that it will explore ways to end the ban on flying the rainbow flag, which celebrates the movement for LGBTQ equality.
“Mr. Biden believes it was inappropriate to abuse a process essential to maintaining open government by including this policy targeting LGBTQI+ Americans,” the White House said in a statement. He added that the president is “committed to fighting for LGBTQI+ equality at home and abroad.” ”
The White House said that while it was unable to block the flag proposal, it was “successful in defeating more than 50 other policy riders attacking the LGBTQI+ community that Congressional Republicans attempted to include in the bill.” .
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The law Biden signed requires that U.S. funds be used to “fly or display any flag on U.S. State Department facilities,” other than flags affiliated with the United States or other governments, or flags supporting prisoners of war. It is stipulated that this is not possible. Missing soldiers, hostages, and unjustly imprisoned Americans.
But the Biden campaign argued that while such flags cannot be flown “over” the U.S. embassy, there is no point in flying them elsewhere, such as on embassy grounds or inside offices.
“It does not affect the ability of members of the LGBTQI+ community to serve openly at our embassies or celebrate Pride,” the White House said, referring to the month. Usually in Junewhen LGBTQ parades and other events are held.
The Biden administration has strongly embraced LGBTQ rights.in sudden change From the Trump administration, Secretary of State Antony Blinken not only allowed, but encouraged, US missions to fly the rainbow flag during Pride Month.
Blinken's predecessor, Mike Pompeo, an evangelical Christian, ordered that only the American flag be flown on embassy flagpoles.
In 2015, under the administration of former President Barack Obama lit up To celebrate the landmark Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, the White House was bathed in rainbow colors, delighting liberals but infuriating some conservatives.
