CNN
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The White House attacked congressional Republicans on Sunday for pushing a provision in the government funding bill which limits the flags that can be flown above U.S. embassies, effectively banning LGBTQ flags.
“President Biden believes it was inappropriate to abuse the process essential to keeping government open by including this policy targeting LGBTQI+ Americans,” a White House spokesperson said in a statement.
“While this will have no impact on the ability of members of the LGBTQI+ community to serve openly in our embassies or celebrate Pride, the administration fought against the inclusion of this policy and we will continue to work with members of Congress to find an opportunity. to repeal it,” the spokesperson said.
The criticism from the White House was reported on Saturday by Bloomberg.
The measure only allows certain flags to be flown over U.S. embassies, including the American flag, the U.S. Foreign Service flag, the Prisoner of War/MIA flag, the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag, the flag of a State, the “island area” or DC, the flag of the Indian tribal government. , the official flag of a U.S. agency and the sovereign flag of another country.
The provision, which was negotiated by Congressional appropriators, does not include language restricting flags that can be flown elsewhere on embassy grounds or in offices.
“The flag provision would continue to allow pride flags to be present in almost all cases at embassies, unless flown *above* the exterior of the building. This does not limit the use of a flag on, in front of, inside, on workspaces, etc. said Human Rights Campaign spokesperson Brandon Wolf in a statement published on X.
Wolf said the provision amounted to “manipulation” by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, whom he called “desperate to appease a base whose agenda is an unmitigated disaster.”
The White House spokesperson added that she had “succeeded” in preventing more than 50 other policy provisions targeting the LGBTQ community that Republicans had sought to insert into the legislation.
“President Biden is committed to fighting for LGBTQI+ equality at home and abroad,” the spokesperson said.
While Donald Trump’s State Department rejected requests from embassies to raise the Pride flag, Secretary of State Antony Blinken authorized U.S. diplomatic missions to raise the flag over embassies and consulates around the world in 2021. Many U.S. embassies fly the Pride flag during the month. of June, recognized as Pride Month in the United States and other countries.
