The $1.2 trillion spending package that Congress approved in the early hours of Saturday includes a provision that effectively prevents LGBTQ Pride flags from being flown at U.S. embassies.
While the 1,012-page legislation does not explicitly state the prohibition of Pride flags at U.S. embassies, it does align with similar local efforts to ban non-governmental flags from public buildings. Such policies have been adopted in Huntington Beach, CA as well as in a Muslim-majority Detroit-area community.
The bill’s text reads:
“None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be obligated or expended to fly or display a flag over a facility of the United States Department of State” other than the U.S. flag, the POW/MIA flag, the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag, flag of a state, flag of an Indian Tribal government, official branded flag of a U.S….
