Personally, I’m not a group person. If the world was separated by Pizza Eaters, Taco Eaters, and Hamburger Eaters, you might find me alone under a tree with a plate of spaghetti. So groups is all Greek to me.
But I’ve noticed most people aren’t like that. Hence, news.
On the day gay marriage became the law of the land, the White House lit up with rainbow colors. That was in 2015.
The current administration doesn’t seem quite so federally festive.
As you may know, June — as designated by someone unknown to me — is Pride Month. Therefore, some U.S. embassies have requested to fly the gay flag on official flagpoles. You know what response that got? It got a Nope.
As reported by NBC News:
The U.S. embassies in Israel, Germany, Brazil and Latvia are among those that have requested permission from Trump’s State Department to fly the pride flag on their flagpoles and have been denied, diplomats said. Although the pride flag can and is being flown elsewhere on embassy grounds, including inside embassies and on exterior walls, the decision not to allow it on the official flagpole stands in contrast to President Donald Trump’s claim to be a leader in supporting LGBTQ rights overseas.
In contrast to supporting rights??
The Daily Wire proposed this:
As to why the Trump administration has denied the request remains to be seen, though speculation is it sees LGBT rights and pride as two separate issues. For instance, the administration’s recent call to decriminalize homosexuality in countries such as Iran stems from an ideological impulse to see individuals treated with dignity and respect, which makes it a U.S. diplomatic endeavor, not an LGBT endeavor. It would be as if the embassies were to suddenly put crucifixes on the front lawns to stand in solidarity with persecuted Christians.
Could be.
Trump’s gotten some credit from gay groups recently. As pointed out by the Daily Mail, he’s the first Republican president to promote Pride Month. And he’s made efforts to decriminalize homosexuality in other parts of the world. See for yourself:
As we celebrate LGBT Pride Month and recognize the outstanding contributions LGBT people have made to our great Nation, let us also stand in solidarity with the many LGBT people who live in dozens of countries worldwide that punish, imprison, or even execute individuals….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2019
….on the basis of their sexual orientation. My Administration has launched a global campaign to decriminalize homosexuality and invite all nations to join us in this effort!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2019
Lesbian Jerri Ann Henry with gay group Log Cabin Republicans is pretty psyched:
‘To have any president recognize Pride is important to my community. To have a Republican president recognize that is massive. It’s worth noting that hasn’t happened before, and not anything close. … There will be many other issues we have to go to war over, but I will celebrate this. … I’m not here to say everything the president does is perfect on every LGBT issue, but I’m happy to compliment and celebrate the good things when I can get them. This is one of those cases and I’m so proud.”
Even so, BuzzFeed ran the headline “Trump Is The First Republican President To Acknowledge LGBT Pride Month, And Yet…”
And Democratic Rep. Don Byer tweeted a list of Trump LGBT crappiness:
“[He] banned transgender Americans from military service, opposed the Equality Act, blocked citizenship for children of same-sex couples, allowed anti-trans discrimination in homeless shelters, Ended healthcare protections for transgender people.”
Evidently, gay Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan’s on Team Byer:
“Just in the last month, the Trump Administration has fought to: deny citizenship to some children of same-sex American couples, strip protections for transgender Americans at homeless shelters, end anti-discrimination protections for transgender Americans in health care.”
But on Friday, Kellyanne Conway told reporters gay groups should be grateful to the Prez for “calling on other countries to do something that’s very important, which is to join the U.S. in decriminalizing homosexuality.”
And there was this:
“I’m old enough to remember the 2008 campaign where Hillary and Obama were arguing with each other as to who was more for traditional marriage. It wasn’t so long ago.”
It seems he is the gayest Republican president.
Regardless, it’s easy to see why Trump ain’t gettin’ it with some of the folks who want him in the trans trenches. After all, if he wants to really compete in the world of gay grandstanding, he’s gonna have to step it up to Kirsten Gillibrand level:
Top story: @Behind2020: 'Kirsten Gillibrand relaxes after working a gay bar in Iowa ' pic.twitter.com/WucoMKRQRq, see more https://t.co/yK2a5YSidh
— Beowulf (@TheBeowulf) June 9, 2019
Flag, schmag — that’s Bush League.
In the mood to delve further into group pageantry? Check out my companion piece spotlighting a curious impending Boston event: the Straight Pride parade.
-ALEX
See 3 more pieces from me:
Gillette Releases Its First Trans Commercial: A Proud Father Helps His Daughter Shave Her Beard
Trans Actor’s Grad Speech: Abortion Isn’t *Just* A Woman’s Right
Find all my RedState work here.
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