The Trump administration has denied permission to U.S. embassies overseas seeking to fly the rainbow banner on embassy flagpoles during gay pride month.

The State Department issued the denials, in a reversal of policy from the Obama administration.

U.S. embassies in four nations – Israel, Germany, Brazil and Latvia – had sought permission to fly the rainbow flag, which has appeared in shops and homes during gay pride events and parades.

The U.S. ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, is the senior-most gay official in the Trump administration, and has pushed efforts to discourage laws that criminalize homosexuality overseas.

The decision on the flag comes despite the Trump administration issuing a formal statement calling to 'celebrate LGBT Pride Month and recognize the outstanding contributions LGBT people have made.'

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was a conservative House member before Trump nominated him to run the CIA, was behind the move, according to NBC, which broke the story.

The decision came down from the office of undersecretary for management Brian Bulatao at State. He previously worked for Pompeo at Langley.

It applies only to the main flagpole of each embassy – and doesn't prohibit embassies from displaying the rainbow flag in other places.

The Obama administration allowed embassies the option to fly the rainbow flag during June.

The rainbow flags can still be flown both inside and outside the U.S. embassies, just not on the official flagpole stand that marks U.S. sovereignty.

>LINK<

This is way beyond WTF. We have gone so far off the rails that this story is even in our universe of thought

Diversity and celebrating less then 5% of the population is bringing this country to its knees.

And these LGBT groups will instantly bash Trump as a hater of gay groups because he won't displace the U.S. flag with a gay one. Yet gays, who make a tiny, tiny segment of the population in this country think that everything revolves around their little world.

It would be no different if blacks in this country wanted to place a Black Pride flag on the embassy flagpoles. Or if another group wanted a Don't Tread On Me flag.

I'm guessing this means the White House won't be lit in rainbow colors either. Another Obama tradition.

quote:

Originally posted by CQB60:
Diversity and celebrating less then 5% of the population is bringing this country to its knees.

I think 5% is high but lets just go with 5%. Out of that 5% maybe only 2% are the militant/activist type that make a stink about these things. The rest just want to be left alone like everyone else.

"...Richard Grenell, is the senior-most gay official..."

I didn't know we quantified it this way,,, most gay...
Poor Daily Mail

quote:

Originally posted by oddball:
And these LGBT groups

I’m starting a new LGBT group.

Liquor, Guns, Bacon & Titties

quote:

Originally posted by maximus_flavius:

quote:

Originally posted by oddball:
And these LGBT groups

I’m starting a new LGBT group.

Liquor, Guns, Bacon & Titties

You'll have a bigger membership base than the 'other one' in a week.

quote:

Originally posted by maximus_flavius:

quote:

Originally posted by oddball:
And these LGBT groups

I’m starting a new LGBT group.

Liquor, Guns, Bacon & Titties

Sign me up for a Benefactor Life Membership in that group

These State Department weenies are notoriously complicit and involved with others of an alternative sexual persuasion.

It does not surprise me at all that there would be a big push to fly the homosexual flag aside the Stars and Stripes all over the world given their deviant nature.

I am very glad that we have a President strong enough to stand up against this tyranny of the left.

quote:

Originally posted by Bytes:
This is way beyond WTF. We have gone so far off the rails that this story is even in our universe of thought

The policy sounds reasonable to me.

Our embassies overseas promoting gay rights is a good thing. Here, it's about discrimination. In many other countries, it means standing up for the right of someone not to be imprisoned or killed for their sexual orientation.

Gay people deserve the same rights as everyone else, no more, no less. Places like Iran still exist, so this is important.

quote:

Originally posted by lastmanstanding:

quote:

Originally posted by CQB60:
Diversity and celebrating less then 5% of the population is bringing this country to its knees.

I think 5% is high but lets just go with 5%. Out of that 5% maybe only 2% are the militant/activist type that make a stink about these things. The rest just want to be left alone like everyone else.

My thinking as well for a long time. Maybe 3% of the population. 95% of them simply do what the rest of us do; work, get through life, etc.

But theres that small group who is never happy. Eternally "outraged" and litigious.

I wonder how much of the LGBT community simply wants to be left alone and go about their lives? Without this constant bombardment in the MSM over them being discriminated against or marginalized.

Rick Grenell has been a stalwart part of Trump’s team, and perhaps our most effective ambassador to any country. If he leaves that post he will likely have another even higher-level post in the second Trump administration.
However I hate the idea of US embassy flagpoles—or ANY embassy property—being used for non-national purposes.

quote:

However I hate the idea of US embassy flagpoles—or ANY embassy property—being used for non-national purposes.

Yup. I don't care what they fly, so long as they don't fly it on the official "This is United States Territory" flag pole with the US flag on it.

We should start a petition to fly some type of 2nd amendment flag. To promote an armed civilian population and show support for all of the oppressed who have no means to protect themselves from tyranny.

A gay person carrying a gun has a hell of a better chance of protecting themselves from attack than a gay person who carries a rainbow flag.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
However I hate the idea of US embassy flagpoles—or ANY embassy property—being used for non-national purposes.

+1

And the U.S. flag best represents the concept of "you can be what you what to be", more than any other flag.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:

However I hate the idea of US embassy flagpoles—or ANY embassy property—being used for non-national purposes.

This is the core issue.

If someone wishes to be gay, then have at it. If they are proud of it, so be it. That does not constitute a right or privilege to run sexual preference or orientation up a flag pole. The flag is washed in blood and represents the sovereign institution of the United States, it's strength, it's freedom, and it's power, as well as independence.

The freedom under that umbrella, beneath that flag, includes the right to sexual orientation or preference, but that right does not usurp the flag.

Even on one of the most sacred of holidays, memorial day, we lower the flag to half-staff for half of the day to honor the dead, and then raise it to full staff (where to other flag flies higher) to honor the living. It is appropriate that the US flag flies over state buildings where ever they are, as well as outposts, bases, buildings, cities, and our people, who have the freedom to do as they choose.

It is wholly inappropriate to fly special-interest flags, particularly those that pertain to sexual orientation or preference, over US institutions of state. I have no problem with the president or anyone else recognizing such a group, but there is a difference between recognizing that group and flying a flag for that group over the US government buildings and properties.

Perhaps after the gay pride flag is washed in the blood of millions and has secured our freedoms, it can earn a privilege of flying near the Flag of the United States...but then the Flag of the United States is about Sacrifice and Freedom, while the gay pride flag is about sexual entitlement. Simply because the gay community wants to shove their homosexuality in the face of society does not entitle them to wave it above state buildings and government offices.

Perhaps is this is important to the gay community, they can start their own nation and fly their flag there. The Proud Gay Independent State of Rainbowland, or something like that. Over US embassies? No.

Good.

The only thing that belongs on a flagpole at a U. S. Embassy is the Stars and Stripes.

Period.

quote:

Originally posted by swordsmn1:
"...Richard Grenell, is the senior-most gay official..."

I didn't know we quantified it this way,,, most gay...
Poor Daily Mail

I just don’t want to know the “how” it was measured.

quote:

Originally posted by arcwelder76:

quote:

Originally posted by Bytes:
This is way beyond WTF. We have gone so far off the rails that this story is even in our universe of thought

The policy sounds reasonable to me.

Our embassies overseas promoting gay rights is a good thing. Here, it's about discrimination. In many other countries, it means standing up for the right of someone not to be imprisoned or killed for their sexual orientation.

Gay people deserve the same rights as everyone else, no more, no less. Places like Iran still exist, so this is important.

I agree 100%. I still don't want the rainbow flag flying over our embassies, it does not belong there and is not a symbol of our nation. Put up a poster or something if you want, but do not fly that flag below ours.