prideflag

After widespread attention and public debate on the recent hoisting of a Pride Flag at the US Embassy Down Town and at its Chief of Mission Residence on Sanford Road, the US Embassy in the Bahamas is doubling down on its posture to fly the controversial flag.

In a Facebook post uploaded Wednesday afternoon, the embassy says, “The United States believes that all human beings, regardless of who they are or who they love, deserve dignity and respect, and to be free of fear, stigma, and discrimination.”

The video shows Chargé d’Affaires Usha Pitts holding the LGBT Pride flag as another Pride flag and a US flag billows from a pole outside of its embassy.

This comes after the Bahamas Christian Council called its actions a “bullish agenda of forcing other nations to accept their social experiments,” adding that the US is “insensitive to the moral and ideological position,” of the Bahamas.

Public reactions have been widespread, some in support of the move and others have opposed it, standing in agreement with the Bahamas Christian Council.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in President Joe Biden’s administration authorized U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world to fly Pride flags, on the same pole as the American flag at embassies and consulates.

This marks a move by President Biden to overturn a ruling by Former President Donald Trump which mandated that the American flag should not be flown with other flags.

The Bahamas Christian Council is denouncing a recent move by the US Embassy to fly the Pride Flag at its US Embassy at its Down Town office and at its Chief of Mission Residence.

In a press statement released late Tuesday evening, the BCC said the actions of the US Embassy are “insensitive to the moral and ideological position of this country regarding the lifestyle of homosexuality.”

The BCC says it fears that the raising of the Pride Flag at its embassy can influence the country’s social and political arena and result in “diplomatic bullying.”

“We believe that all foreign diplomats should appreciate how offensive it is to attempt to impose their ideology unto other nations as they will never stand for us to do the same in their country. This is a matter of respect and diplomatic assault upon the consciousness of our Bahamian society.”

Why it matters

The Bahamas prides itself in its Judeo-Christian values, where Christianity remains the largest religion that teaches the traditional family structure.

Mainstream sentiments largely oppose homosexuality.

However, the US Embassy said it is honoring the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons in the Bahamas and around the world for the entire month of June, which is celebrated as LGBTQI+Pride Month in the United States.

The big picture

Secretary of State Antony Blinken in President Joe Biden’s administration, authorized U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world to fly Pride flags, on the same pole as the American flag at embassies and consulates.

Blinken  however, noted that it was not a requirement, stating that the Chiefs of mission “determine that such a display is appropriate in light of local conditions.”

President Biden overturned a ruling by Former President Donald Trump which mandated that the American flag should not be flown with other flags, but alone.