State Department blocks pride, BLM flags from embassies, outposts with ‘one flag policy’

The U.S. State Department, under the Trump administration, has implemented a new policy that prohibits U.S. embassies and outposts from flying Pride and Black Lives Matter flags. The policy, known as the “One Flag Policy,” mandates that only the American flag, along with the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) emblem and the Wrongful Detainees Flag, can be displayed at U.S. facilities both domestically and internationally.

The memo outlining the new policy emphasizes the importance of the American flag as a unifying symbol that represents the universal principles of justice, liberty, and democracy. The decision to restrict flag displays at U.S. facilities comes after years of controversy surrounding the issue, with debates between Democrats and Republicans over the appropriateness of flying flags like the Pride and Black Lives Matter banners.

Former President Joe Biden faced criticism for flying the Pride flag outside the White House during a Pride Month celebration in 2023 and for a leaked State Department memo in 2021 that encouraged displaying Black Lives Matter flags at U.S. embassies. These incidents led to the introduction of the One Flag for All Act by GOP lawmakers in 2023, which aimed to limit flag displays on federal buildings to only the American flag with few exceptions.

Pride flags were initially flown at U.S. embassies during the Obama administration, but were banned by the Trump administration in 2019. The ability to display these flags was reinstated by the Biden administration in 2021, only to be banned once again from being flown outside U.S. embassies in March 2024 as part of a spending package signed by President Biden.

President Trump made significant changes to the State Department upon taking office, appointing new officials to key roles to ensure the implementation of his foreign policy agenda. Recently, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was confirmed as the Secretary of State, signaling a shift in leadership within the department.

The decision to restrict flag displays at U.S. facilities reflects the ongoing debate over the use of flags as symbols of identity and inclusion. The new policy underscores the importance of the American flag as a unifying symbol for all Americans, while also recognizing the significance of other flags that represent specific causes or communities.