President Joe Biden has agreed to ban US embassies from flying the LGBTQ pride flag as part of a $1.2 trillion spending deal to keep most US government agencies open through Sept. 30

President Joe Biden has agreed to ban US embassies from flying the LGBTQ pride flag as part of a $1.2 trillion spending deal to keep most US government agencies open through Sept. 30.


President Joe Biden has agreed to a provision in a $1.2 trillion spending deal that prohibits US embassies from flying the LGBTQ pride flag. The agreement, aimed at keeping most US government agencies open through Sept. 30, includes the flag prohibition promoted by House Speaker Mike Johnson as a victory for Republicans.

The White House's budget office endorsed the overall deal on Thursday and called for swift passage. However, the White House did not immediately comment on the flag provision.

Many US embassies have traditionally flown the rainbow-themed Pride flag during LGBTQ Pride Month in June, as well as on May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.

Displaying the Pride flag at embassies has been controversial, especially among social conservatives. The practice began during the Obama administration and was banned by President Donald Trump. The Biden administration later reversed the ban.

The provision in the funding deal prohibits embassies from displaying not only the Pride flag but also the Black Lives Matter flag, which some conservatives view as politically divisive.

Republicans applauded the ban during a closed-door meeting, according to a source familiar with the meeting. The provision also prohibits displaying flags other than the approved US flag, which would include Confederate flags or Trump-themed “Make America Great Again” flags. However, embassy officials are still allowed to use Pride flags for personal purposes.

The provision allows embassies to fly flags commemorating prisoners of war, hostages, and wrongful detainees. It is set to expire on Sept. 30, when the funding deal ends.

Republican Representative Jeff Duncan, who introduced legislation to stop the display of non-US flags at embassies, named his bill the "Old Glory Only Act" after learning that an embassy in South America had displayed a rainbow flag.