Pentagon: Pride Flags Still Banned at Military Facilities

• The Pentagon confirmed that it will not allow Pride flags to be displayed at military facilities even during Pride Month.
• Their current flag policy only allows certain flags to be displayed.
• Officials explained that the decision was not a show of disrespect but a way to bar future challenges against the flag policy.

The Pentagon’s flag policy stands amid Pride Month, which means that Pride flags cannot be displayed at military facilities.

Spokesperson John Kirby confirmed the decision to reporters on Friday.

Kirby clarified, “This 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. We’re proud of them.”

The Pentagon’s current flag policy, which was implemented in July 2020 during former President Donald Trump’s administration, only allows certain flags to be flown at Department of Defense (DOD) installations.

Allowed flags include the American flag, flags of U.S. states and territories, military services, prisoners of war and missing in action, national flags of U.S. allies, and a few more.

The policy was implemented to indirectly ban the Confederate flag by excluding it from the list of allowed flags, NPR reported.

After careful consideration, the DOD decided not to make an exception for Pride Month.

Kirby explained that the Pentagon could face future challenges to the policy if they make an exception for the Pride flags during Pride Month.

He added, “This was really more about the potential for… other challenges that could arise from that exception.”

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden celebrated Pride Month with an official proclamation at the start of the month. He declared that nearly 14% of his 1,500 federal agency appointees identify as LGBTQ.

Around 6.3% of active duty service members — about 4.1% of men and 17.6% of women — identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual in 2018, according to Rand Corp.

Source: NPR