US embassy in Vatican flies Pride flag outside its building for month of June | The Independent
Category: News & Politics
Via: jbb • 3 years ago • 25 commentsBy: Danielle Zoellner (The Independent)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken gives permission for US embassies to fly the Pride flag outside
Danielle ZoellnerNew York @dani__zoellnerThursday 03 June 2021 22:09
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The United States embassy in the Vatican has decided to fly the Pride flag for the month of June in honour of the LGBT+ community.
"The US Embassy to the Holy See celebrates #PrideMonth with the Pride flag on display during the month of June," the embassy wrote in a tweet on Tuesday. "The United States respects the dignity and equality of LGBTQI+ people. LGBTQI+ rights are human rights."
The embassy also shared a statement from US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on 1 June, the start of Pride Month.
"As we celebrate Pride Month this June, let us not only observe how far we have come in the struggle for the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons, but also acknowledge the challenges that remain," the statement read.
Mr Blinken announced earlier this year that US embassies and consulates would be allowed to fly the Pride flag on the same flagpole as the American flag during "Pride season".
This authorisation under the Biden administration, which was not a mandate, was announced before 17 May, an international day against homophobia and transphobia.
US embassies have also participated for the month of June, which was celebrated as Pride month within the LBGT+ community.
But authorities have asked for US embassies located in specific locations to not fly the flag out of concern of the potential reaction.
The Trump administration reportedly prohibited the Pride flag to be flown on flagpoles outside of federal buildings, but allowed for the flag to be hung inside.
The announcement of the Pride flag flying outside the US embassy in the Vatican has sparked some backlash among Americans, specifically Catholics, who questioned if the flag was flying outside embassies in locations where homophobia was punishable by death.
"Do we have this flag hanging in Saudi Arabia? Indonesia? Iraq? Or is the Biden Administration's policy really just meant to provoke the Catholic Church?" one person wrote following the news.
Newsweek editor Josh Hammer called the move a "deliberate, provocative insult to traditional Catholicism".
At the start of June, president Joe Biden, who is Catholic, released a statement celebrating the month.
"Pride is both a jubilant communal celebration of visibility and a personal celebration of self-worth and dignity," Mr Biden stated before calling on Congress to pass the Equality Act, which would establish sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in federal civil rights law.
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Happy Pride Month!
... in support of some of the clergy there, obviously...
If priests could have adult relationships with other adults, straight or gay, paedophilia would not be such a recurring problem for Catholics...
He would best be advised that traditional Catholicism has a horrible history.
Blinken is pushing his hardest to get the LGBT+ flags posted everywhere. Is that the new U.S. policy? Don't think so.
It's not a problem for me, is it for you?
I'd prefer the KIA/MIA flags - they're not in evidence of being posted.
Biden returned the MIA flag to the top of the White House where it flies 365 days a year. There are a certain number of days/dates that the MIA flag is flown at all US government installations, six I believe.
The MIA flag has not been relegated to the dust bin but remains in the most prominent place in America, the White House.
Blinken made a huge mistake! As far as US embassies, the only flag that should be flying is the US flag. In allowing the rainbow flag to be flown, he is giving preferential treatment to endorse one particular special interest group at the expense of other such groups.
I never knew gay people were a special interest...
In my opinion, as much as any other group looking out for their own interests, yes they are. That was not meant as a condemnation, only a observation.
But the thing is, they are not a 'group'.
They are real people living among you.
They are a special interest group if they have PACs and organizations that donate money to politicians. Which they have several to choose from.
Google is your friend- there are countless more besides the ones that I listed. Look it up.
Are straight people a group?
They sure as hell have a lot of pacs and make money...
The only thing special is the way they are treated, by some.
Are you one of those people that thinks being gay is a choice?
You already answered your own biased question.
Let me know when they announce a straight pride month; and hang a straight pride flag from US Embassies and government buildings.
So you refuse to answer my question.
Very telling.
Tell me when straight people were discriminated against...
You have no point. Other than trying to act like being gay is some special class of their own making.
Are you one of those people that doesn't get the definition of a special interest group?
Here, let me help you.
So according to you anyone that is gay belongs to a special interest group.
[Deleted]
You already answered your own damn question; so what is the point of me answering it.
Very telling that you can't recognize the very definition special interest.
Which set of straight people do you want to choose? They don't all go under one banner. There are very few straight group PAC's out there with their name actually in them; but you could put out every last religious group and organization out there that doesn't want their religious beliefs infringed upon to start with.
Typical Democrat, making assumptions that don't exist. Not once did I state they had a choice. I said they were a special interest group; which they are. They fit every definition of the word. No special interest group should have their flag hung at any Federal, State, or Local government building; period. The government is not supposed to show favoritism to any group at any level.
Again, being gay is not some secret society where one becomes a member.
Yes gay people have special interest groups just like straight people have special interest groups.
It does not make them as a whole some special interest group, like you are trying to make it seem. So get real.
There is no shame in showing solidarity. Sorry that it offends you so much.
Just for once I would like some on the right to acknowledge that people are just people.
Being gay is not a crime yet it seems some would like to make it so.
Say what you mean and mean what you say.
It pisses you off that an embassy dared to hang something gay.
Fits the narrative that I heard lately, from the right wing, that we are weak.
Just because we are inclusive and don't discriminate is in no way a weakness, despite right wing claims.
equality is obviously a new concept to some americans...
centuries of murder, genocide, pedophilia, and facilitating the escape of nazi war criminals...
A section of the original pride flag has been found and now on display in SF. The person who had it didn't realize what he had and said he got chills when he realized it.