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Pentagon won't change policy to allow Pride flag to be flown at military bases
Source: CNN
Pentagon won't change policy to allow Pride flag to be flown at military bases
By Barbara Starr and Ellie Kaufman, CNN
Updated 2131 GMT (0531 HKT) June 4, 2021
(CNN) — The Department of Defense will "maintain existing policy for the display of unofficial flags" and "not grant an exception to display the Pride flag" at military bases, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement to CNN.
Kirby said the decision does not "in any way reflect on the respect and admiration we feel for all our LGBTQ+ personnel in and out of uniform."
This puts the Pentagon at odds with the State Department, where Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a blanket authorization for US diplomatic outposts to fly the rainbow flag on the same flagpole as the American flag at embassies and consulates in April.
The policy, which limits which unofficial flags can be displayed at military bases, was put in place last July by Trump-appointed Defense Secretary Mark Esper. The policy was part of an effort to ban the display of the Confederate flag and other potential hate symbols on bases in the midst of last summer's racial tensions.
-snip-
By Barbara Starr and Ellie Kaufman, CNN
Updated 2131 GMT (0531 HKT) June 4, 2021
(CNN) — The Department of Defense will "maintain existing policy for the display of unofficial flags" and "not grant an exception to display the Pride flag" at military bases, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement to CNN.
Kirby said the decision does not "in any way reflect on the respect and admiration we feel for all our LGBTQ+ personnel in and out of uniform."
This puts the Pentagon at odds with the State Department, where Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a blanket authorization for US diplomatic outposts to fly the rainbow flag on the same flagpole as the American flag at embassies and consulates in April.
The policy, which limits which unofficial flags can be displayed at military bases, was put in place last July by Trump-appointed Defense Secretary Mark Esper. The policy was part of an effort to ban the display of the Confederate flag and other potential hate symbols on bases in the midst of last summer's racial tensions.
-snip-
Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/04/politics/dod-pride-flags/index.html