Slotkin joins Republicans in supporting Pride flag ban at military installations

MONDAY, Aug. 7 — Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin was one of only two Democrats to vote for a Republican measure widely seen as targeting the potential display of gay Pride flags at military installations.

Slotkin and a North Carolina Democrat joined Republicans in narrowly passing a ban on the military from flying all “unofficial flags.” It was an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. Three Republicans voted against the amendment, which codifies restrictions put in place by the Trump administration.

Slotkin’s office did not respond to requests for comment. Slotkin is seeking the Democratic nomination to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow in next year’s primary election.

In a tweet last month, Slotkin defended her vote by saying that the measure also bans the Confederate Flag from being flown.

“As someone who grew up in a gay home as the daughter of a woman who came out in the 1980s, I’ve always fought for equality and LGBTQ+ rights — including again yesterday by voting last night to protect access to gender-affirming care for military families,” she tweeted July 14.

She added that another vote on the amendment supported “a policy endorsed by Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin to ban hateful flags from flying on military bases, particularly the Confederate flag. I’d rather support a no-flag policy than allow hateful imagery above U.S. military bases.”

The amendment was narrowly passed by the GOP-controlled chamber.

The bill was specifically targeting the rainbow flag, not Confederate flags. The rainbow flag was created in California to celebrate LGBTQ people.

The amendment was introduced by Rep. Ralph Norman, a Republican from South Carolina.

The amendment tracks with a Trump administration policy that prohibited the display of “unofficial” flags on military and government buildings. It was reignited when the Biden administration hung a rainbow flag on the White House to celebrate Pride Month. The amendment was originally legislation introduced by Sen. Roger Marshall, a Republican from Kansas.

In a press release announcing his “One Flag for All Act,” Marshall chastised the Biden administration for displaying the rainbow flag between two American flags.

“It’s a sad state of affairs when the White House prioritizes their radical social agenda over patriotism,” Marshall said. “The American flag stands for liberty and justice for ALL and should never be undermined by anyone, especially the President of the United States. Old Glory must reign supreme as a symbol of our nation’s freedom that thousands of our servicemembers, and veterans have fought and died to protect. The One Flag For All Act ensures that the American Flag never gets sidelined for culture wars and political points and remains the sole symbol of our nation’s freedom and sacrifices.”During debate on the House Floor, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., called out the amendment.

“With this amendment, my Republican colleagues are once again attempting to erase and to censure the LGBTQ+ community in our armed forces and in those workplaces," said Houlahan. "With this amendment, anti-equality lawmakers are attempting to take up backwards by prohibiting service members and DOD employees from displaying the Pride flag, a symbol of strength and acceptance of the LBGT community."