In one of his first acts as Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson has lifted a ban on UK Embassies and High Commissions flying the rainbow flag.
The rainbow flag, used as a symbol to promote LGBT lifestyles, will be allowed to be flown on specific days, including the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, and local pride festivals.
It is a change of policy from former Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, who had insisted as recently as July that only the flags of the United Kingdom, its overseas territories and the EU could be displayed.
Export same-sex ‘marriage’
However, in a statement to LGBT news website PinkNews, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) announced that the new Secretary of State supported a change, saying:
"The Foreign Secretary has agreed that FCO buildings, including at diplomatic missions overseas, can fly the rainbow flag in order to mark relevant international days such as the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) and locally relevant events, such as local Pride celebrations."
In 2013, the former Prime Minister, David Cameron said he wanted to "export" same-sex ‘marriage’ around the world so other countries could follow suit.
Speaking at a reception celebrating the passage of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, Cameron he added: "there’s a lot more work to be done as Britain in the Commonwealth, talking to our Commonwealth partners about decriminalising homosexuality in various countries."
Andrea Williams commented at the time that: "Who is he to start meddling in the affairs of other sovereign states? This is thoroughly undemocratic and smacks of arrogance towards the commonwealth nations."
'Against the natural family and against God'
Just one day after the PinkNews report, peaceful protests were held in Jamaica over the US Embassy’s decision to raise the rainbow flag and light its building up in rainbow colours to promote the countries Pride week.
A spokeswoman for the protest, Philippa Davies told the Jamaica Gleaner that the protest was arranged to show disapproval for "the embassy's action to raise the LGBT community trademark rainbow flag last Thursday (4 August)".
"To coerce countries around the world to accept a political ideology that is against freedom; against human dignity, against the natural family and against God, we will not accept it," she added.
In 2014, new legislation was introduced to allow same-sex ‘marriages’ to take place on premises owned by the British High Commission.
Related Links:
'I want to export gay marriage around the world,' says Cameron
Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (GOV UK)
'Independence Pride, Not Gay Pride' - Protesters Tell US Embassy To Cool Its 'Homosexual Agenda' (Jamaica Gleaner)
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson lifts ban on embassies flying rainbow flags for Pride (PinkNews)