Multiple Democratic offices on Capitol Hill have replaced their flags memorializing prisoners of war with transgender pride flags, the Washington Free Beacon has learned.
The changes came at the urging of the National Center for Transgender Equality, which is delivering flags to congressional offices in advance of International Transgender Day of Visibility. Among the members to make the switch was Rep. Kim Schrier (D., Wash.), who replaced the POW flag she had displayed outside her office with a transgender pride flag.
Picture on left of Kim Schrier’s office door in January, picture on right of Schrier’s office this week after the change
The first picture is of the outside of Schrier’s office from a January Facebook post, while the second is from earlier this week. The name plates appear different because Schrier, who is a doctor, later had "M.D." added after her name.
As a proud member of the @LGBTEqCaucus, I will do everything I can to make sure transgender people #WontBeErased by violence, fear or prejudice. I am committed to safety and equality for all. #TransVisibilityWeek pic.twitter.com/eB9nihPsaI
— Rep. Kim Schrier (@RepKimSchrier) March 27, 2019
Staffers from the office of Rep. Pete Aguilar (D., Calif.) were spotted attempting to pull their office’s POW flag out of its stand on Wednesday. A source told the Washington Free Beacon that Aguilar’s office initially tried to remove the POW flag, was unsuccessful, then managed to remove it soon after.
The picture below shows the pink, white, and blue transgender flag on the right side of the door of Aguilar’s office.
Rep. Tim Ryan (D., Ohio) also replaced the POW flag with the transgender flag. The first picture is from a March 12 tweet, while the second is from a March 27 tweet. In the first photo, the POW flag is to the right of the Ohio state flag, while in the second photo, the transgender flag has taken its place.
The offices for Schrier, Aguilar, and Ryan did not respond to requests for comment.
Several other offices have hung transgender pride flags outside of their offices this week in advance of International Transgender Day of Visibility on Sunday, The Hill reports. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.), and Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D., Va.) are among the other members of Congress who also placed the flags outside their offices.
A Republican office on the Hill reached out to the Washington Free Beacon to say it was also asked to replace their POW flag with the transgender pride flag. The change was not made.
2/ With the help of community members & volunteers, we delivered trans pride flags to EVERY member of the Congress, from every party, including voting members and non-voting delegates.
Every.
Single.
One.
Our request: Fly them outside your office for #TransVisibilityWeek. pic.twitter.com/yh8qT9E3ds
— National Center for Transgender Equality (@TransEquality) March 26, 2019
Not all Democrats who put up the transgender pride flag removed the POW flag. Rep. Adam Smith (D., Wash.), for example, placed the transgender pride flag and POW flag next to each other.
During #TransVisibilityWeek I join in solidarity with transgender constituents in WA09 and transgender people across the country. In the halls of Congress, we should always remember our commitment to safety and equality for everyone. My office is welcome and open to all. pic.twitter.com/6jUMWc64qz
— Rep. Adam Smith (@RepAdamSmith) March 26, 2019
Likewise, Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D., Ariz.) also hung up the transgender pride flag on her door and chose to leave the POW flag displayed.
I’m proud to hang the Transgender Pride Flag on our #AZ02 door. In the halls of Congress, we should always remember our commitment to safety and equality for ALL. #TransVisibilityWeek #WontBeErased pic.twitter.com/Iu1Hy8aZvx
— Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (@RepKirkpatrick) March 26, 2019
The post Dem Offices Remove POW Flags, Replace With Transgender Pride Flags appeared first on Washington Free Beacon.
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