(CMR) US embassies have been banned from flying rainbow Pride flags as part of a provision in a $1.2 trillion package signed off by President Joe Biden on Saturday to avert a government shutdown.
The Republican-authored provision which limits the types of flags that can be flown or displayed over US embassies, has stirred some controversy with the White House vowing to repeal it.
The law states that no US funding can be used to “fly or display a flag over a facility of the United States Department of State” other than U.S. or other government-related flags, or flags supporting prisoners of war, missing-in-action soldiers, hostages and wrongfully imprisoned Americans.
“President Biden believes it was inappropriate to abuse the process that was essential to keep the government open by including this policy targeting LGBTQI+ Americans,” the White House said in a statement this weekend first reported by Bloomberg.
“While it will have no impact on the ability of members of the LGBTQI+ community to serve openly in our embassies or to celebrate Pride, the Administration fought against the inclusion of this policy and we will continue to work with members of Congress to find an opportunity to repeal it,” the statement continued.
The provision would appear to allow the display of such flags in other ways, according to civil rights groups, including inside the building.
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