The Trump administration is denying requests from U.S. embassies looking to fly the rainbow pride flag on flagpoles in celebration of LGBTQ Pride Month in June.
According to NBC News, U.S. embassies in Israel, Germany, Brazil, and Latvia have all been denied permission from Washington D.C. to fly the pride flag this month.
The rejection came to a surprise to many, after Trump announced plans to decriminalize homosexuality overseas in a statement on Twitter on May 31.
“As we celebrate LGBT Pride Month and recognize the outstanding contributions LGBT people have made to our great Nation, let us also stand in solidarity with the many LGBT people who live in dozens of countries worldwide that punish, imprison, or even execute individuals based on their sexual orientation,” Trump wrote.
“My Administration has launched a global campaign to decriminalize homosexuality and invite all nations to join us in this effort,” he added.
Trump received backlash following denied requests and his tweet supporting the LGBTQ community, especially after he banned transgender troops from enlisting in the army.
During the Obama administration, embassies overseas were allowed to fly the pride flag in June, but this year embassies were told that requests to fly it on the flagpole had to be approved. However, the Trump administration has approved the flag to displayed on other places, such as inside embassies.
At this time, no requests to fly the pride flag have been approved, but that hasn’t stopped all embassies. Seoul, South Korea found a creative way to celebrate pride month, hanging a large rainbow banner from the side of the building
The Trump administration has yet to comment.
