In February, Biden issued a presidential memorandum aimed at expanding protection of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer and intersex (LGBTQI) people worldwide. But Blinken's order gave them carte blanche to fly the pride flag. The move came before May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, and before June, which many nations recognize as Gay Pride month.Įmbassies are required to get permission from the State Department when flying anything besides the American flag on their main flagpoles. In 2019, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blocked embassy requests to fly the symbol of support for LBGTQ people on the same pole as the Stars and Stripes.īut Biden's Secretary of State Anthony Blinken gave approval to fly the flag at diplomatic outposts around the world. In April, the State Department announced that the Biden administration would allow US embassies and consulates around the world to fly the Gay Pride flag on the same flagpole as the American flag, reversing a Trump-era policy. The study also concluded that open transgender service has had no significant impact on operational effectiveness or unit cohesion in foreign militaries. In 2016, a Department of Defense study found that enabling transgender individuals to serve openly in the United States military would have only a minimal impact on military readiness and healthcare costs. In 2019 the Washington Blade reported that all branches of the military said they had discharged zero service members and the Coast Guard said it had rejected two recruits. It is unknown how many new recruits were rejected, or how many were not recruited. It did not affect anyone who was serving and recognized as transgender, but affected new recruits and also said that currently serving troops who started to transition would be discharged. In the Biden administration, 14 percent of all appointees identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer, according to the White House.įor Pride Month, President Biden touted his efforts to boost diversity in the military and to fly the gay pride flag at US outposts around the world Rachel Levine, who is the first openly transgender person ever confirmed by the Senate. flag, also over turning a Trump-era ban.Īnd he touted his diverse cabinet and political appointees in his administration, including Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, who is the first openly gay Cabinet Secretary confirmed by the Senate, and Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. diplomatic outposts around the world to fly the Pride flag on the same flagpole as the U.S. The president also noted his administration announced it will allow U.S.
In a statement on Gay Pride Month, which begins June 1, Biden noted in his first weeks in office he signed several executive orders that expanded the definition of discrimination to include LGBTQ people and one that prohibits discrimination against transgender servicemembers, which over turned a Trump-era policy.
'The United States respects the dignity and equality of LGBTQI+ people.
Embassy to the Holy See celebrates #PrideMonth with the Pride flag on display during the month of June,' wrote the embassy on Twitter with a picture of the flag on their building. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off pride month on Tuesday by touting their efforts to boost diversity in the military and to fly the gay pride flag at US outposts around the world.Īlready some embassies and consulates are flying the signature rainbow flag.