Congress in Washington is to ban American embassies from flying the rainbow flag of the LGBT community, a victory for conservative lawmakers, reports AFP, citing News.ro.

The measure is part of a long-standing ideological battle between Democrats and Republicans. It crept into the federal budget, a more than 1,000-page text unveiled Thursday by elected officials.

An amendment included in the budget bill provides that the funds may not be used to “fly or display over a building of the United States Department of State” flags other than the U.S. flag, as well as official flags for prisoners of war, soldiers, missing in action. during missions, hostages or wrongfully imprisoned Americans.

During Donald Trump’s presidency, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ordered that only the American flag be flown on the flagpoles of the embassy, ​​sparking protests from the LGBT community.

Joe Biden, who has been in power since 2021, has made the protection of sexual minorities the axis of his diplomacy.

His Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, not only allowed but encouraged American missions to raise the rainbow flag in June, Gay Pride month in the United States.

The US president is expected to approve the ban, announced on Thursday, as part of a text that must be passed by the end of this week to avoid