Republicans want to ban American embassies from flying Pride flags
The bill has 30 cosigners and was drafted after certain embassies chose to fly Pride flags alongside the American flag
A group of Republican House members have filed a bill that would ban Pride flags from being flown outside U.S. embassies.
Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) submitted H.R. 6450, which would prevent U.S. embassies from flying any flag other than the U.S. flag on their premises.
The bill has over 30 Republican cosigners, and while it does not specifically list the Pride flag as a banned item, The Washington Examiner reports that it was inspired by the Pride flag being flown on certain embassies during Pride month.
“The United States flag is the single greatest symbol of freedom the world has ever known, and there’s no reason for anything but Old Glory to be flying over our embassies and posts around the globe,” Duncan told the Examiner.
Dubbed the Old Glory Only Act, the bill states it would “prohibit the flying of any flag other than the United States flag over United States diplomatic and consular posts.” The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Duncan has been a vocal opponent of LGBTQ rights and is on record as opposing same-sex marriage. The Congressmember also believes that government workers who have anti-gay opinions should be protected and that state laws are more applicable than federal laws on marriage, which is false.
Many embassies have flown the Pride flag alongside the American flag to support the LGBTQ community, including in Belize, Jamacia and Israel.
Jamaica’s Attorney General Marlene Malahoo Forte called the U.S. embassy in Kingston “disrespectful” after it joined others around the world in flying the Pride flag in the wake of the Orlando shootings, saying: “I strongly condemn #OrlandoNightClubShooting but find it disrespectful of Jamaica’s laws to have #RainbowFlag flown here. #MyPersonalView.”
The embassy quickly responded to the attorney general’s statement, asking what law had been broken. The tweet was later deleted.
Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
