TOM PAPPERT | National File
The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See is flying a LGBT pride flag, and will fly it for the entirety of June, claiming that flying it near the Bishop of Rome will show’s the embassy’s solidarity with the LGBT community.
“The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See celebrates #PrideMonth with the Pride flag on display during the month of June,” the U.S. in Holy See wrote on Twitter. “The United States respects the dignity and equality of LGBTQI+ people. LGBTQI+ rights are human rights.” The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See is less than three miles from the Apostolic Palace, where the Pope resides.
The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See celebrates #PrideMonth with the Pride flag on display during the month of June. The United States respects the dignity and equality of LGBTQI+ people. LGBTQI+ rights are human rights. pic.twitter.com/Xentlnr16E
— U.S. in Holy See (@USinHolySee) June 1, 2021
The move comes just over a month after Joe Biden’s Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, “issued a blanket authorization for U.S. diplomatic outposts around the world to fly the Pride flag on the same flagpole as the U.S. flag at their embassy or consulate showcasing support for LGBTQ rights.” This is a policy reversal from that of the Trump administration under former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
However, Foreign Policy notes that “the authorization is not a requirement and chiefs of mission who run each embassy or consulate can choose whether to fly the Pride flag or showcase other symbols connoting support for LGBTQ rights based on what is ‘appropriate in light of local conditions.’” Many Twitter users questioned whether embassies in Middle Eastern countries – many of which still criminalize homosexuality – would fly the flag.
One user wrote, “Is the embassy in Saudi Arabia hanging a pride flag?” Another added, “Gonna do the same in the Middle East?” A third added, “Pope Francis is about as sympathetic as a Holy Father can be to the political left and this is how they treat him? It’s entirely possible that the Red Hats see this, decide no compromise with the left will ever be enough, and give up entirely on trying to please the left.”
Pope Francis is about as sympathetic as a Holy Father can be to the political left and this is how they treat him?
It’s entirely possible that the Red Hats see this, decide no compromise with the left will ever be enough, and give up entirely on trying to please the left.
— Hans von Röhr (@Roadants) June 1, 2021
