U.S. Embassy In Stockholm Raises Pride Flag

To commemorate Stockholm Pride 2013, the U.S. Embassy in Sweden is flying the rainbow flag beneath the American flag, according to a post on the Embassy's Facebook page.

Mark Brzezinski, the U.S. ambassador to Sweden, posted a heartfelt note on his blog Thursday explaining why he was proud to raise the rainbow flag to celebrate Stockholm Pride from July 26 - August 4.

"For me, this is about love," wrote the ambassador on Thursday. "Love is one of the most basic human instinctual feelings one can have. It's what I felt the day I got married and another human being and I committed ourselves to each other; it's also what I felt when I witnessed the birth of my daughter. How can one deny that feeling, and the practical expression of that, from another human being?"

Ambassador Brzesinski, who is married to a woman, also made note of the recent advances toward LGBT equality in America, spurred by the landmark ruling in favor of marriage equality at the Supreme Court, and President Obama's outspoken support for marriage equality and LGBT rights. But the ambassador stressed that the nation's work is not yet done.

"We must stamp out homophobia and transphobia," wrote Brzezsinki. "We must stand up against intolerance and discrimination and fight for the right for people to love whom they choose and live their lives happily, openly, and proudly."