Donald Trump introduces controversial new rule that affects Pride and BLM flags

Following the implementation of several new gender and minority-based executive orders, Donald Trump has also put into place a ban on both LGBTQ+ community flags and flags representing the Black Lives Matter movement at embassies and consulates around the world.

The move falls under a new policy aimed at limiting the number and strength on diversity efforts in government institutions.

Shortly after his inauguration last week (20 Jan), new Republican president Donald Trump, 78, put several executive orders into place, a handful of which will directly affect minority communities in the States.

Firstly, he ruled that the government would recognise 'only two genders' - male and female' - as part of a policy which reads: "Agencies will cease pretending that men can be women and women can be men when enforcing laws that protect against sex discrimination."

It continues: "These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality."

The order also pledges to bring to an end 'wasteful' government programmes which promote diversity and inclusivity, as well as 'defending women from gender ideology extremism'.

Hours later, Trump also revoked the 1965 Equal Employment Opportunity Act, which previously promoted opportunities for and protect women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ people and other traditionally underrepresented groups within society.

Trump has already revoked the Equal Employment Opportunity Act and declared the existence of 'only two genders' (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

It also prohibited discrimination in the workplace based on race, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, and marital or familial status.

Reuters reported last week (22 Jan), however, that government DEI (diversity, equality and inclusion) employees would be placed on paid leave and Trump will seek to dissuade private companies using government contracts from hiring marginalised individuals.

As we say, the latest restriction to be rolled out affects minority communities in another way - by prohibiting their use of and representation via flags.

The Department of State this week banned any consular post from flying a flag that bares anything other than the official flag of the United States of America.

This describes the traditional flag, bearing thirteen alternating red and white horizontal stripes, with a navy rectangle in the top left corner containing 50 white stars - representing the countries 50 states.

According to a cable obtained by The Guardian, the new restriction is titled the 'One flag policy', and ties into Trump's latest effort to limit diversity efforts in the US.

Neither Pride nor BLM flags will be flown on government buildings (Simon Shin/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The campaign seeks to target another allowance made by the former Biden administration, which came to an end last week when Trump was officially sworn in as president.

Under Biden's leadership, both gay pride flags and BLM flags were flown at embassies abroad, and were on display at the White House during Pride Month in 2023 - initiatives Donald Trump seeks to abolish.

The cable read: "Starting immediately, only the United States of America flag is authorized to be flown or displayed at US facilities, both domestic and abroad, and featured in US government content."

It continues: "The flag of the United States of America united all Americans under the universal principles of justice, liberty, and democracy. These values, which are the bedrock of our great country, are shared by all American citizens, past and present."

According to the latest memo, the only exceptions that will be made to this rule going forward are the prisoner of war/missing in action flag, as well as the hostages and wrongful detainees flag.