LGBTQ Pride flags banned at VA facilities under new policy

[Lori Dee]

LGBTQ Pride flags banned at VA facilities under new policy
Link to Full Article
Military Times - Leo Shane III
Feb 13, 2025, 06:38 AM

Veterans Affairs officials this week unveiled new rules banning LGBTQ Pride flags and other unofficial banners at department offices and spaces, saying the move will bring "consistency" to agency messaging.

In a memo released late Wednesday evening, VA Secretary Doug Collins said the new policy would limit the display of all flags except for the American flag at all VA facilities. Exceptions include the display of state flags, military service flags, U.S. agency flags and the POW/MIA flag.

The guidance applied to "public displays or depictions of flags by VA employees in all VA facilities, workplaces, buildings, common areas and public areas," to include personal cubicles, government vehicles and any space "in public or plain view."

"This policy will bring consistency and simplicity to the display of flags throughout the department, which I expect to have a singular focus: serving the needs of veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors," Collins wrote in the memo.

The policy does not apply to veterans gravesites or museum pieces, or historical and education displays operated by the department. The rules state that such flags will be allowed "where the display or depiction cannot reasonably be viewed as an endorsement of the flag by the department."

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Shortly after Trump's Inauguration, our local VA facilities removed the numerous wall posters featuring rainbow colors and the motto "Serving All Who Served."

The LGBTQ+ Patient Care website patientcare/va.gov is still up. However, it formerly had three animated videos that have now been removed. The caption to the first video is still there: "Hear VA staff talk about why Pride Counts at VA" but there is nothing to hear without the video.

Another now-missing video "LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinators (VCCs) Talk About Care" is gone presumably because all DEI-related employees are either on administrative leave or have been reassigned.

It won't be long now and the remainder of the topics on that page will be scrubbed as necessary to comply with Executive Orders.

[Sephirah]

Thank god we haven't gone this far in the UK... yet.

Heroes and heroines are heroes and heroines. Whatever their colour, creed, sexuality, gender identity. People who have the drive and determination within them to want to serve, and... if necessary... die for their country, should be celebrated. And who they are should be celebrated.

You don't mess with the military. These are the valiant people who make it so you can make stupid decisions like this.

I served on subs in the Royal Navy. At a time where women weren't allowed to serve on subs. Now we are building subs with gender neutral changing rooms, and women are encouraged to serve. This is just wrong.

The consistent message the VA should be sending is that people have heart, and it doesn't matter their background. Anyone can stand up for what they believe in.

[Sephirah]

I am sorry but this really, really annoys me. And I do not get easily annoyed. I am proud of my service, and I am equally proud of the people I served with. Several of whom were gay, and a couple were trans... even before I knew I was trans. They confided in me because I guess I am someone easy to talk to. It has always been a bit of a thorny subject in the military. And I never really understood why. I guess in the UK, we were still living in world war 2 times.

What I will say is that everyone, EVERYONE I considered as family while serving... their background, gender or sexual identity wasn't an issue. All I cared about was that if a code 12 broke out, would these people have my back. And do everything they could to make our boat the best it could be.

The answer to that was always yes. Unequivocally. People who serve, they serve their military family and their country first. Themselves second.

This is a really crappy move. Let these people be themselves. To those closest to them, they likely already are.