Nepal US Embassy/TwitterWhile the news can seem a little bit doom and gloom at the moment, US embassies are casting colour all over the world by flying the Pride flag, despite orders not to from the Trump administration.
With Pride Month officially underway US embassies dotted all over the globe requested to erect the rainbow flag in celebration, only to be denied by the State Department, the Washington Post reports.
According to NBC News, three diplomats revealed the Trump administration rejected multiple requests to fly the rainbow flag on embassy flagpoles.
PixabayEmbassies in Germany, Brazil, Latvia and Israel are among those whose applications are said to have been rejected, but many embassies are finding loopholes by flying the rainbow flag inside their buildings or elsewhere on embassy grounds.
The Obama administration previously approved the flag requests from all over the world by submitting the requests through its chief of mission, however last year Mike Pence altered the request process meaning embassies had to apply for permission directly to the US State Department.
Now, a little bit of faith in humanity has been restored as US embassies continue to throw their support behind the LGBTQ+ celebrations by flying the flag regardless of Trump’s rejection.
At the Seoul Pink Dot Festival. Congrats to Seoul Queer Culture Festival’s 20th anniversary. LGBTI rights = Human Rights. USA is committed to defending human rights for all, incl LGBTI persons. Have a safe and happy Pride Month! pic.twitter.com/tZNh0KeH75
— Harry Harris (@USAmbROK) May 31, 2019
The US embassy in Seoul, South Korea, was among those defying instructions not to fly the flag, however the Korea Herald has reported the embassy has been forced to remove the flag after the Washington Post article brought it to people’s attention, Indy100 reports.
A representative reportedly told the publication:
The removal came after a Washington Post article about some overseas US missions still flying the banner in apparent defiance of the State Department’s policy to disallow it.
Others defying the instructions from the Trump administration include, the US Consulate General in Chennai, India:
The United States Embassy in New Delhi is lit up in #Pride colors to celebrate #PrideMonth. #LGBTPrideMonth pic.twitter.com/v6gxzAps8a
— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) June 4, 2019
The US ambassador of Nepal was also spotted flying the rainbow with pride.
Ambassador Randy Berry wrote on Twitter:
Today, along with the U.S. Mission in Nepal community, I join people around the world in celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, & Intersex #PrideMonth, and reaffirm the U.S. commitment to defending human rights for all.
Today, along with the U.S. Mission in Nepal community, I join people around the world in celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, & Intersex #PrideMonth, and reaffirm the U.S. commitment to defending human rights for all. #Pride2019 pic.twitter.com/5awKWtcP80
— Ambassador Randy Berry (@USAmbNepal) June 1, 2019
Now, this is the kind of rule breaking we like to see.
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Emma Rosemurgey is an NCTJ trained Journalist who started her career by producing The Royal Rosemurgey newspaper in 2004, which kept her family up to date with the goings on of her sleepy north east village. She graduated from the University of Central Lancashire in Preston and started her career in regional newspapers before joining Tyla (formerly Pretty 52) in 2017, and progressing onto UNILAD in 2019.