The U.S. Department of Defense will not allow American military installations to display the Pride flag during the month of June.
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters at a news briefing that the Defense Department will uphold the July 2020 policy regarding “the display or depiction of unofficial flags.”
He explained the decision was meant to prevent exceptions to the policy and “in no way reflects any lack of respect or admiration for people of the LGBTQ+ community, personnel in and out of uniform who serve in this department.”
Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper enacted the policy banning unofficial flags to prohibit the display of the Confederate flag. Esper listed in a memo that permitted flags include federal, state, and territory flags; military service flags; and the prisoners of war and missing in action flags.
Last July, President Joe Biden stated that he disagreed with the ban on the Pride flag.
Banning the Confederate flag from military installations was long overdue.
Banning the LGBTQ Pride flag — the very symbol of diversity and inclusion — is undeniably wrong. The Pentagon should ensure it is authorized, or as President, I will.
https://t.co/rvA4F2YcPS— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 19, 2020
“Banning the LGBTQ Pride flag — the very symbol of diversity and inclusion — is undeniably wrong. The Pentagon should ensure it is authorized, or as President, I will,” he tweeted.
