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naraburns  nihil supernum  2yr ago (text post)   Edited 2yr ago   34788 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of November 14, 2022

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In the cable, Mr. Blinken noted that it was not a requirement and gave chiefs of mission the ability to “determine that such a display is appropriate in light of local conditions.”

In other words, only do it where the locals are already pro-LGBT. They're not trying to convince either the local population or the government of anything, they're just repeating a message the locals already agree with. Hardly a "high priority".

Blinken said he brings up LGBT in every conversation with the Saudis. Some have speculated this is why the Saudis rebuffed US desire to increase oil production before the mid-terms.

https://www.axios.com/2022/06/17/blinken-saudi-arabia-lgbtq-rights

Biden said he'd do more for LGBT in his first foreign policy speech

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-signs-memo-protecting-lgbtq-rights-worldwide-set/story?id=75682189

He also signed a presidential memorandum on Thursday that he said would "reinvigorate our leadership on the LGBTQI issues and do it internationally."

"We'll ensure diplomacy and foreign assistants are working to promote the rights of those individuals included by combatting criminalization and protecting the LGBTQ refugees and asylum seekers," Biden said.

The US soccer team in Qatar will wear LGBT rainbow on their uniforms

https://dailycaller.com/2022/11/14/us-national-soccer-team-crest-lgbt-world-cup-qatar/

In other words, only do it where the locals are already pro-LGBT.

Not quite. (For reference, Jamaica is famously homophobic, and gay sex is illegal in Barbados)

[Edit: It's not quite a formal diplomatic initiative, but this just broke which is quite relevant, and I can't imagine it would have happened if the State Department had a problem with it.]

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