U.S. and UK embassies in the UAE face backlash after flying rainbow pride flag in historic regional
Source: CNBC
The British and American embassies in the United Arab Emirates are facing backlash online and among locals for raising the rainbow pride flag, which honors LGBTQ communities, along with their own national flags to celebrate Pride Month.
This is the first time any diplomatic mission has flown a gay pride flag in the religiously conservative Arab Gulf, and it is causing controversy in a country where same-sex relationships are illegal.
"June is #PrideMonth and around the world we celebrate the equality and visibility of #LGBT+ people," the U.K. mission to the UAE posted on Twitter on Monday. "Today, we are flying the rainbow flag to affirm our pride in the UK's diversity and our values of equality, inclusion and freedom," the post added, along with the hashtag "#Pride2021."
The U.S. embassy posted a photo of its own flagpole flying the American and pride flags, and its Twitter account, @USAinUAE, published a tweet saying, "On the anniversary of Stonewall, a milestone in the American civil rights movement, the U.S. Mission shows its support for the dignity and equality of all people." The Stonewall riots of 1969 are considered the birth of the gay rights movement.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/u-s-and-uk-embassies-in-the-uae-face-backlash-after-flying-rainbow-pride-flag-in-historic-regional-first/ar-AALCw5W?ocid=msedgntp
SoCalNative
(4,613 posts)US embassies are considered to be "on American soil." They can suck it up and STFU.
FarPoint
(12,475 posts)It also makes things extremely dangerous for those who participate...That is a ridged, brutal area overall...Not at all forgiving or understanding...oppressions' rules there...
JCMach1
(27,587 posts)There is a large and vibrant gay community in Dubai. However, it is ALL underground and in the closet.
Anything that helps open that closet even a little is a +.
FarPoint
(12,475 posts)May be there are better ways to bring awareness...I worry about retaliation...
Warpy
(111,433 posts)They still imprison and execute people for being gay over there. I imagine every Imam in the country is screaming his head off about those infidels and their rainbow flags.
It'll die down until next June, then they'll get offended all over again, never realizing their treatment of their gay citizens is the real offense against humanity.
llashram
(6,265 posts)these cretins are essentially poisoning humanity with their hateful malevolence, trying everywhere.