To show its support of diversity and inclusiveness, the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond, Va., will fly a gay pride flag just below the American flag through the month of June, Richmond.com reported.
The flag is being flown at the request of PRISM, an employee LGBT group started at the Richmond bank a year ago. The group is one of several employee affinity groups at this branch.
“We strongly support a diverse and inclusive culture at the Richmond Fed and have learned that it is important to value and embrace differences, both seen and unseen,” Richmond Fed Chief Operating Officer Sally Green told Richmond.com.
However, that rainbow flag seems to be disturbing the view from The Family Foundation’s new office, and has the organization blogging that the Fed's inclusivity apparently doesn't apply to those who don't condone certain lifestyles. Or, the bank's excluding those who don't embrace the bank's support of diversity.
According to The Family Foundation, not all Richmond Fed employees are behind the flag and some have launched complaints. Mississippi-based American Family Association has received one complaint about the flag, OneNewsNow.com reported.
The employee wrote in an email: "For the past five or six years, the homosexual agenda has been pushed down our throats. [The bank president and vice president] have initiated this agenda. This offends me as a Christian."
And now Virginia state Del. Bob Marshall (R-Prince William) has sent a letter to Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond President Jeffrey Lacke demanding that the flag be removed. Marshall said a flagpole in front of a federal building "is not a commercial or political message board."
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From Marshall's letter:
What does flying the Homosexual Flag, or any other similar display, have to do with your central banking mission under the Federal Reserve Act passed by Congress?
Moreover, the homosexual behavior “celebrated” by your Richmond’s Federal Reserve Bank spokeswoman undermines the American economy, is a class six felony in Virginia (18.2-361, VA Code), shortens lives, adds significantly to illness, increases health costs, promotes venereal diseases, and worsens the population imbalance relating to the number of workers supporting the beneficiaries of America’s Social Security and Medicare Programs.
June is traditionally celebrated as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender month.
