--- description: After the Trump Administration's refusal to allow U. S. embassies to fly pride flags, some diplomats are circumventing the policy title: Despite Trump Administration Request Denials, U.S. Embassies Are Displaying Pride Flags Around the World image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt55a2cda850a9e422/69894afa929fad8194bf3536/embassies-trump-denials-pride.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [State Department](/tag/state-department/) ## State Department Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Despite Trump Administration Request Denials, U.S. Embassies Are Displaying Pride Flags Around the World  by [Alejandro de la Garza](/author/alejandro-de-la-garza/)  ## Alejandro de la Garza Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 9, 2019 3:29 PM CUT  A rainbow flag and an American Flag at the Stonewall National Monument on June 4, 2019 in New York City. A rainbow flag and an American Flag at the Stonewall National Monument on June 4, 2019 in New York City.Angela Weiss—AFP/Getty Images  by [Alejandro de la Garza](/author/alejandro-de-la-garza/)  ## Alejandro de la Garza Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 9, 2019 3:29 PM CUT Despite the Trump Administration’s reported refusals this year to grant permission for U.S. embassies to fly rainbow flags during Pride Month, some diplomats are finding ways to still show their support for the LGBTQ community. Under the Obama administration, all U.S. embassies received permission to hoist rainbow flags during the month-long celebration. This year, President Trump’s State Department has been denying requests by U.S. embassies around the world to fly rainbow flags on embassy flagpoles during June, according to [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-admin-tells-u-s-embassies-they-can-t-fly-n1015236 "undefined"). Currently, embassies are permitted to fly the flag on exterior walls or inside the embassies, according to NBC. The lack of approval to raise a Pride flag alongside Old Glory hasn’t stopped many embassies from displaying rainbow colors or the flag itself. A [picture tweeted by](https://twitter.com/USAndIndia/status/1135901418114568198 "undefined") the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, shows the building’s facade lit up with rainbow lights. The Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, [displayed a large pride flag](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/PYH20190525019500325 "undefined") several stories up. The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai, India posted [a video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpJS2GCaqpI "undefined") of the Consul General speaking in front of an enormous rainbow flag. And the website of the U.S. Embassy in Vienna [featured a photo of the Pride flag](https://at.usembassy.gov/idahobit2019/ "undefined") hanging below the American flag from International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia in May. > [](https://twitter.com/USAndIndia/status/1135901418114568198) In Jerusalem, the U.S. Embassy [sent a delegation](https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Man-with-knife-arrested-at-Jerusalem-Pride-parade-591790 "undefined") to the city’s Pride parade, according to the Jerusalem _Post_. Additionally, Randy Berry, the U.S. Ambassador to Nepal, tweeted a photo of himself with embassy staff holding up letters spelling “PRIDE 19.” > [](https://twitter.com/USAmbNepal/status/1134670747039805441) [According to the Washington _Post_](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-embassies-still-hoisting-rainbow-flags-despite-advisory-from-washington/2019/06/08/eeea0bd4-89f4-11e9-a870-b9c411dc4312%5Fstory.html?utm%5Fterm=.3c47d1a49176 "undefined"), the policy changed last year, after Mike Pompeo, an evangelical Christian, became Secretary of State. Last year, the _Post_ said all requests to fly pride flags on embassy flagpoles were approved by the State Department. Under this administration, some State Department employees told the _Post_ it’s better to maintain a low profile. “We fly below the radar,” one employee said. “We survive because they don’t realize we’re here.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5603545/embassies-pride-flag-trump-denials/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5603545/embassies-pride-flag-trump-denials/"},"headline":"Despite Trump Administration Request Denials, U.S. Embassies Are Displaying Pride Flags Around the World","datePublished":"2019-06-09T15:29:42.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T23:42:14.193Z","description":"Trump's State Department has denied requests by U. 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