President Donald Trump has reportedly issued a ban on both the Black Lives Matter and Pride flags just days after taking office.
Trump’s presidency has certainly started with a lot of attention.
He signed 25 executive orders, including one to halt the TikTok ban, change immigration policies, and make a statement declaring that there are “only two genders” in the United States.
Now, he’s targeting two specific flags that have become symbols for many Americans.
Under the State Department’s new ‘one flag policy,’ U.S. embassies and missions abroad are no longer allowed to fly the Pride or BLM flags, according to The Washington Free Beacon.
This new directive specifies that only three non-American flags can be displayed, aside from the U.S. national flag.
These flags include the Prisoner of War, Missing in Action, and Hostage of Wrongful Detainee flags.
According to a report by the Beacon, the order states: “Starting immediately, only the United States of America flag is authorized to be flown or displayed at U.S. facilities, both domestic and abroad, and featured in U.S. government content.”
The Senate approved this order unanimously on Monday, January 20, with a 99-0 vote.
Both the Pride and BLM flags had previously been flown at U.S. embassies, such as the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Brazil, which raised the BLM flag in February 2022 to “commemorate Black History Month.”
Similarly, U.S. embassies in Trinidad and Tobago had done the same.
Pride flags have been displayed at various locations such as the White House and the U.S. embassy in Moscow.
In June 2021, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau raised the rainbow flag for the entire month, and in May 2023, the Latvian Embassy in Riga flew the flag to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.
This directive came directly from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stated: “The U.S. flag is a powerful symbol of pride and it is fitting and respectful that only the U.S. flag be flown or displayed at U.S. facilities, both domestically and abroad.”
Kevin Jennings, CEO of Lambda Legal, expressed his disapproval of the flag ban, calling it “perry and mean-spirited.” He added: “Flying such flags is simply a signal to people that they matter. It hurts no one. We have much bigger challenges to address as a nation and this is just a small-minded distraction from them.”
According to The Beacon, the new rule will take a firm stance against any efforts to raise the banned flags.
Any employees of the State Department who violate the new policy will face consequences, such as being fired, having their contracts terminated, or being moved back to their original agency. However, it’s unclear if there are any additional penalties.
The new rule has sparked a lot of backlash on social media, with many users expressing their dissatisfaction.
One person commented: “It’s a human rights violation. The UN will deal with it.”
Another said: “Seems like the government banning free expression.”
