Members call for removal of flag of bow colours from Veterans Cemetery

Republican lawmakers from Mississippi are calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs to remove the temporary Pride flag [gay pride flags] from Biloxi National Cemetery, saying its presence is a disservice to veterans. In a letter Monday to Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, five GOP lawmakers, including Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, called raising the flag during Pride Month a "political stunt."

“Makaburi yanapaswa kuwa mahali pa kutafakari na kuheshimiwa, sio kuashiria maadili ya umma,” inasema barua hiyo, ambayo pia ilitiwa saini na Wawakilishi Mike Ezell, Michael Guest na Trent Kelly. “Maveterani wetu wanatarajia Idara ya Masuala ya Veterans kutoa huduma, sio kukuza itikadi zenye utata.” Haijulikani ni vituo vingapi vya VA na makaburi yanapeperusha bendera kama hiyo ,katika barua hiyo, wabunge hao wanadai kwamba wote wanapaswa kuondolewa. “Tunaomba uelekeze Makaburi ya Kitaifa ya Biloxi na vifaa vingine vya Masuala ya Wastaafu kuondoa bendera ya LGBT Pride na kurejesha bendera ya Marekani mahali pake panapostahili,” waliandika. VA inakadiria kuwa kuna maveterani milioni 1 wa LGBTQ nchini Marekani, na tafiti zimegundua kuwa wana mawazo ya kujiua na wana uwezekano mdogo wa kutafuta huduma, kwa sehemu kwa sababu ya hofu ya kubaguliwa.