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Pride flag at the British Embassy in the United Arab Emirates.
The British and US Embassies in the United Arab Emirates are receiving an online reaction from the Tory Emiratis after hoisting the Rainbow Pride Flag alongside their own national flags to celebrate Pride Month in June.
The United Arab Emirates continues to criminalize same-sex relationships. And this despite the fact that the country is considerably more liberal than neighbors like Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Iran, whose strict adherence to Sharia law allows the death penalty for same-sex marriages.
So, on Monday, when the British and US embassies in the United Arab Emirates publicly displayed their support for LGBTQI + communities by displaying the pride flag, it sparked controversy on Twitter.
Pride in diversity
The UK Embassy tweeted a photo of the pride flag hoisted next to the Union Jack at their offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai with the following caption: “June is Pride month and around the world, we celebrate the equality and visibility of Lgbt+ people. Today we fly the rainbow flag to affirm our pride in the diversity of the UK and our values ​​of equality, inclusion and freedom.
Conservative commentators and social media users were quick to criticize the move as “disrespectful”, “in bad taste” and unnecessary “antagonism”. Some have noted that the UK would not be so forgiving if a similar controversial display happened the other way around.
This is unacceptable
We see this as an insult and a lack of respect– اسم الريس (@Mohd_AlRais) June 28, 2021
The message from the United States Embassy in Abu Dhabi paid tribute to Stonewall. “On the occasion of Stonewall’s birthday, a milestone in the American civil rights movement, the American mission shows its support for the dignity and equality of all.”
The tweet was characterized by a respondent as another example of “Western cultural imperialism”. Although the post from the US embassy did not garner the same level of criticism as the tweet from the UK embassy.
No more Western cultural imperialism.
– Khalid A AlHashimi (@ kalhashimi92) June 29, 2021
Amid dissenting voices, some expatriates congratulated this decision.
#UNITED ARAB EMIRATES is our nation of #tolerance, peace and prosperity – it’s great to see the rainbow #Pride flag fluttering above the sky of Bur Dubai! @MoFAICUAE @MansoorAbulhoul
– SSS Agent (@sehris) June 29, 2021
This is the first time that the rainbow pride flag has been hoisted by a foreign mission in the Arabian Gulf and is part of a larger campaign for LGBTQI + rights to be upheld in the region.
Earlier in June, the United States Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan tweeted an image of the pride flag as an early celebration of Pride Month, as allowed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The month of June is recognized as Pride Month (LGBTI). The United States respects the dignity and equality of LGBTI people and celebrates their contributions to society. We remain committed to supporting the civil rights of minorities, including LGBTI people. # Pride2021 #PrideMonth pic.twitter.com/qgKPQAPaOY
– U.S. Embassy Kabul (@USEmbassyKabul) June 2, 2021
These demonstrations of support from U.S. embassies signal promise Joe Biden made to prioritize human rights and support LGBTQI + rights in his presidency.
While many see the UK and US as supporting LGBTQI + communities abroad, political scientist Dr Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, said The independent that these protests may form part of the UAE government’s opinion on the matter. If so, Abdulla thinks we can expect the government to consider decriminalizing same-sex relationships.
Vatican pride flags
The UAE was not the only conservative region where embassies hoisted rainbow flags. The Pride Flag adorned the facade of the United States Embassy to the Holy See in the Vatican for the duration of Pride Month. And, on June 25, Australian Ambassador to Russia Graeme Meehan joined ambassadors from New Zealand, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Iceland in signing an open letter supporting pride and LGBTQI + rights.
еÑÑц гордоÑти – озможноÑÑ‚ÑŒ напомнить, что миллионы ей из ÑообщеÑтва ЛГБТИ + ÑталкиваютÑÑ Ñинацрим. авы дипмиÑÑий в ÑовмеÑтном аÑвлении поддерживают активиÑтов ЛГБТИ + и напоминают, то рава еловеÑоа в + и напоминают, то права чеовеÑоа ваоинают, то права чечовеÑобща ваиÑто pic.twitter.com/ZcguMZ1WKu
– Graeme Meehan (@PosolAustralia) June 25, 2021
The letter read: “[We] Celebrate Pride Month by affirming the inherent human rights of every individual… including members of the LGBTI + community. Human rights are universal and everyone, including LGBTI + people, has the right to their full enjoyment. Last year, the embassies also issued a joint statement on LGBTQI + rights.
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