<p>The Pentagon said on Friday that it would not make an exception to allow US military installations to fly rainbow pride flags in June, keeping a policy set by former President Donald Trump that limited the type of flags that could be flown on bases.</p>.<p>Earlier this week, President Joe Biden said that nearly 1,500 of his federal agency appointees identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer, in a proclamation marking the start of Pride Month celebrating the LGBTQ community.</p>.<p>In July 2020, Trump's Pentagon issued a policy authorizing only certain flags on military installations and was seen as a way for then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper to issue a de facto ban on displaying the Confederate flag without specifically mentioning it.</p>.<p>"There won't be an exception made this month for the pride flag," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.</p>.<p>He said that the decision was made because it could open the door for other challenges to the rule set in place in July.</p>.<p>"This is no way reflects any lack of respect or admiration for people that (are from) the LGBTQ+ community, the personnel in and out of uniform who serve in this department," Kelly added. "We are proud of them."</p>.<p>A 2015 RAND study found that 5.8 per cent of service members identified as either lesbian, gay or bisexual.</p>.<p>On his first day in office, Biden signed an executive order directing federal agencies to protect LGBTQ people under all federal laws that prohibit discrimination based on sex. Biden also reversed a ban on transgender people openly enlisting and serving in the military.</p>.<p>The Biden White House also reversed an order issued by Trump's then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on flying the Pride flag and some US embassies, including in India and Australia, are highlighting their support for LGBTQ people. </p>
<p>The Pentagon said on Friday that it would not make an exception to allow US military installations to fly rainbow pride flags in June, keeping a policy set by former President Donald Trump that limited the type of flags that could be flown on bases.</p>.<p>Earlier this week, President Joe Biden said that nearly 1,500 of his federal agency appointees identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer, in a proclamation marking the start of Pride Month celebrating the LGBTQ community.</p>.<p>In July 2020, Trump's Pentagon issued a policy authorizing only certain flags on military installations and was seen as a way for then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper to issue a de facto ban on displaying the Confederate flag without specifically mentioning it.</p>.<p>"There won't be an exception made this month for the pride flag," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.</p>.<p>He said that the decision was made because it could open the door for other challenges to the rule set in place in July.</p>.<p>"This is no way reflects any lack of respect or admiration for people that (are from) the LGBTQ+ community, the personnel in and out of uniform who serve in this department," Kelly added. "We are proud of them."</p>.<p>A 2015 RAND study found that 5.8 per cent of service members identified as either lesbian, gay or bisexual.</p>.<p>On his first day in office, Biden signed an executive order directing federal agencies to protect LGBTQ people under all federal laws that prohibit discrimination based on sex. Biden also reversed a ban on transgender people openly enlisting and serving in the military.</p>.<p>The Biden White House also reversed an order issued by Trump's then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on flying the Pride flag and some US embassies, including in India and Australia, are highlighting their support for LGBTQ people. </p>