The US Department of Defense “will maintain the current policy on the display of unofficial flags” in response to whether they will allow the presence of LGBT flags at military installations. “We will not make an exception for the pride flag to be displayed ,” explained a Pentagon spokesman, John Kirby, in statements to CNN. The current president, Joe Biden, promised in his election campaign against Donald Trump that he would allow the display of the rainbow flag on Defense Department precincts.
The measure does not imply “in any way” questioning the “respect and admiration we feel for all our LGTBQ + staff when they are in uniform or in plain clothes.”
The decision contrasts with that of the State Department and its secretary, Antony Blinken , who in April authorized the use of the rainbow flag in diplomatic facilities even on the same flagpole as the American flag.
The regulation that restricts the use of unofficial flags in military installations dates from July 2020, when the president was Donald Trump and it was sought to prevent the display of the Confederate flag. Biden , in addition to promising that he would allow the display of the LGBT flag, highlighted the differences between the rainbow ensign and the Confederate flag.
The LGTB flag in embassies
US media published that Anthony Blinken, US Secretary of State, authorized the heads of diplomatic representations around the world to decide on the display of the LGTB flag on May 17, for the international day against homophobia and transphobia, and during the month of June, for the month of gay pride. In the letter sent to embassies and consulates , Blinken allowed the rainbow flag to be hoisted on the same flagpole as the national ensign , according to Foreign Policy.
The decision represented a change from the handling of the matter by former President Donald Trump and Mike Pompeo. While the Blinken notification stated that it was not a requirement but a mere authorization at the choice of diplomatic representatives based on what is “appropriate in light of local conditions.”