To ensure true inclusion, heres the flag to fly

California state senator, candidate for Congress and perpetual pearl-clutcher Scott Wiener melted down recently as San Francisco’s Philz Coffee’s new owners announced a move to standardize their café chain’s experience –– and remove pride flags from all stores.Wiener took to social media to decry corporate’s decision and declare that the chain “just lost its community values.”But let’s admit it: Removing LGBTQIA+ flags from public or commercial premises is not some shocking act of cruelty or a declaration of war on rainbows.It’s a refreshingly sane step toward genuine inclusion.The coffee chain announced last week that it would remove the Pride flag from its stores. Outrage followed, as Wiener, Suzanne Ford (the executive director of San Francisco Pride), and an online petition all demanded the flag be retained at Philz.This week, the chain’s CEO, Mahesh Sadarangan, says that while Philz won’t reverse its decision, it could’ve communicated better, remains committed to LGBTQIA+ causes, and will hold a contest to develop unifying artwork to display in lieu of the flag.The broader issue, of course, is not with the LGBTQIA+ community or with that flag specifically.The problem is that identity-specific symbols, by their very nature, highlight what divides us rather than what we share. In contrast, the American flag remains the only enduring, neutral emblem of freedom, democracy, and actual unity for every single citizen, no matter their personal background.Wiener, of course, loves to pearl-clutch.He insists that removing the rainbow flag (or its ever-evolving “Progress” version with extra chevrons for whichever subgroup is currently trending) equals rejecting LGBTQIA+ people themselves.

This is theatrical nonsense.The original rainbow flag, created by Gilbert Baker and unfurled in San Francisco June 1978, was a simple celebration for a specific community. Today’s version, layered with triangles and stripes ranking identities by oppres...