Veterans Affairs Defends Flying LGBTQ+ Flag During Pride Month

The Department of Veterans Affairs defended flying the Pride flag over the agency's facilities during Pride Month after a Republican Mississippi congressman requested the banner be taken down from the Biloxi VA center.

"Happy Pride to LGBTQ+ Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors! Your service, your sacrifice – even in the face of discrimination – will never be forgotten," VA Secretary Denis McDonough posted on Twitter Friday. 

"Proud to fly the Pride flag over VA, and proud to serve you each and every day," he said.

McDonough last year gave the OK to all VA facilities to fly the rainbow banner during Pride Month in June.

Rep. Mike Ezell on Friday sent a letter to McDonough and Dr. Stephanie Repasky, who serves as interim director of the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System, asking them to remove the Pride flag from in front of the Biloxi VA Medical Center.

“While I believe everyone should be treated with respect, I take serious issue with any flag flying at a VA facility that promotes social policy positions or political statements,” Ezell wrote in the letter.

The Republican said the only flags that should be flying above VA buildings are government and military flags.

"These facilities should not be used as tools to promote any social or political agenda, and only government and military flags, such as POW/MIA flag and flags of the U.S. Armed Forces, should be flown or displayed alongside the American flag on VA property," he said in the letter.

"For these reasons, I am writing to request that this flag, and any other flags promoting social policy positions or political statements, be removed," it continued.

VA press secretary Terrence Hayes also released a statement affirming the department's commitment to inclusion.

“VA facilities fly the flag as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of LGBTQ+ Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors, and as a symbol of VA’s commitment to inclusion,” Hayes said.

There are an estimated 1 million LGBTQ veterans in the US, according to the California Department of Veterans Affairs.