The US Department of Education weathered sharp criticism over the weekend for its decision to add a rainbow to its Facebook profile picture.
By noon Friday, the federal education department’s social media team had swapped out their original blue background for the fanatically pro-gay rainbow image, mirroring the Obama administration’s loud support for the recent supreme court decision on gay marriage.
The @WhiteHouse Lit Up With Pride Colors After Marriage Equality Decision http://t.co/9v20nNLd4g pic.twitter.com/6NVDUE4t10
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) June 27, 2015
While the image was up for only a brief moment (it’s already been changed back), it was long enough to catch the attention of concerned members of the public who expressed disapproval of the department weighing in and taking sides on such a controversial political issue.
“I would love it if the department of education could teach our children why a handful of men acting like tyrants overturned the rule of law and the voice of the people,” a Facebook commentor wrote. “That would be a great lesson to start with.”
Another user, who claimed she is a teacher, expressed she found the department’s picture completely inappropriate.
“As a teacher that offends me. The department of education has no business in political or religious affairs,” the user wrote.
In fact, most of the highest voted comments on the department’s Facebook image, of which there were over 1,400, were negative.
At least one astute commentor saw the image as emblematic of the department’s overarching agenda.
“I find this very inappropriate for the department of Education to share… If there is an agenda here to teach young children about homosexuality, I feel that is a matter that should be left up to the parents…” she wrote.
Various other federal branches, such as the US Department of Treasury, the US Department of Agriculture and the US Department of Health and Human Services, did not alter their profile images, though the latter showed support by sharing a tweet from President Obama.
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