FoxNews.com - TEL AVIV – The U.S. Embassy broke new ground and raised a few eyebrows by flying the rainbow-colored gay pride flag below the Stars and Stripes in a show of support for the city’s week long Gay Pride week, not to mention a rare example of tolerance in the wider Middle East.

“Proudly flying the colors!" read a dual-language post on the Facebook page of U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro’s office. "For the first time in history, the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv has raised the Pride flag together with our American flag. We are proud to join with the municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo and its residents in celebrating LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual] Pride Week.”

The Tel Aviv embassy gesture to the local gay community is not the first of its kind though. Last month, according to Spanish media reports, the gay pride flag flew over U.S. Ambassador James Costos’ official residence in Madrid, and last September, the flag was unfurled by Ambassador Theodore Sedgwick at the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava, in Slovakia.

Reaction from outside of the gay community to the sight of the American flag being accompanied by the rainbow banner was mixed.

“I see that it is OK to put up a gay pride flag over an embassy but not ok for military members to espouse their religious beliefs in God," read a post on the Embassy's page, attributed to Grant Hix Jones. "I am ashamed to see those flags side by side.”

“How is this "gay pride flag" representative of all Americans?" wrote a poster named James Brown. "This flag needs to come down.”

While most people posting messages on the embassy Facebook page expressed various shades of disapproval, on the other side of the debate there were those in favor of hoisting the gay flag, with “Way to go!” and “Proud” being among the posted comments.

An embassy official told FoxNews.com all the responses were appreciated.

“We are glad to see our Facebook page utilized as a forum for free speech,” the official said.

Shapiro announced late last month that the flag would fly above the building, noting "the United States’ strong support for the LGBT community at home and abroad."

Corey Bardash, co-chairman of Republicans Abroad-Israel, said embassies in neighboring countries would be displeased by such a display.

“Regardless of one’s religious or political sensitivities this is the only country in the Middle East where America would feel its embassy wouldn’t come under attack by doing such a thing”, Bardash told FoxNews.com. “I remember when, not so long ago, [former Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmedinejad said there are no gay people in Iran!”

“This is part of society here, despite the fact we have a large, traditional, religious minority,” Bardash continued. “It shows that there is a little island in the Middle East that shares the same democratic values as America. It’s shocking that there are some LGBT overseas that are against Israel, something completely against their own interests when there are death sentences in [Muslim] countries around the region against their own gay communities, including close by here with the Palestinians.”


All I can say is WTF! [ram27bat]

Good. As long as our Nation's flag is flying high, all this religious nonsense needs to stop.

Religion?

Sure. All this sexual discrimination stems from idiotic religious views, especially in the Middle East.

Nothing like waving a target over our men in the Middle East.

I want to know who approved this because our embassies are for official business, not socio-political statements.



(BTW, I have no problem with gay pride events or the concept.)

Maybe one day we'll fly the rainbow flag over our embassy in Palestine as well.

Fixed it for you.....🌫


And yes...I agree. 🙂

Amen Brutha Paul!

In complete agreement with rfenst and cacman.

And now for O Bamas latest stroke of pen move.....

Aiming to circumvent that issue, the Veterans Affairs Department will start letting gay people who tell the government they are married to a veteran to be buried alongside them in a national cemetery, drawing on the VA's authority to waive the usual marriage requirement.

Now my question IS....do they also and or did they previously allow heterosexual spouses to be buried next to their husbands / wives? Or is this yet another " special right " that ONLY GAY couples enjoy???

Looks like it IS something available to both groups.....and the World turns......upside down 🤦


For the full story :

http://www.gopusa.com/news/2014/06/21/obama-expands-government-benefits-for-gay-couples/?subscriber=1 

Veterans spouses can be buried along with their husbands/wives. This is normal protocol, happens all the time in National cemeteries.


What is different now is that you don't have to be "married" in the traditional sense, if you are gay

That's because you can't use traditional and GAY in the same sentence.....

Why does homosexuality bother you so much?

Dang it Paul, cant you see you be offending fenster with your comments. This is America, you cant hurt others feelings even if it goes against your beliefs.







You guys see anything wrong with that? I DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why does it bother you so much that Paul dosent believe like you do?

I am not bothered at all- just curious what Paul believes other than his post in this thread, so I asked. Paul is a big boy and can reply for himself, should he choose to. He is entitled to whatever opinion he holds. Why does this even concern you?

Kiddin right

Because it is WRONG....Disgusting....behavior that has been allowed to take root in our society. I personally hold tight my values and core beliefs...no matter how politically correct the REST of the World becomes. You will NOT find me waivering on this subject. And in case your wondering...No I am not a highly religious person per sey, I just go with my gut, which tells me it's WRONG. I like many / most others did not / do not hate those who are, that being said I FIRMLY believe that lifestyle IS A CHOICE made by each individual....not a genetic melody of some sort. satisfied??

2 men = 0 offspring

2 women = 0 offspring

If you can't produce your own children = no adoption either!!!

I find I almost unbelievable that most " heterosexual " American couples who cannot have their own children go thru impossible challenges to even try to adopt, but if your a Holloywood ****.....no problems, to the head of the line 🤦