Some people are 'American flagging’ their Facebook profile pictures as a protest against Pride

This radio host has been promoting the tool on Facebook (Facebook)

Last week, millions of Facebook users gave their profile pictures a rainbow makeover to celebrate the double Pride/Supreme Court same-sex marriage ruling but an unpleasant backlash has begun.

The translucent rainbow tool was laid on by Facebook itself, but a number of third-party apps are now offering an American flag equivalent to people opposed to gay marriage and equality in general.

Facebook’s Pride profile overlay (Facebook)

RightWingNews.com, which created one of the American flag tools, hasn’t explicitly stated that it’s meant as a counter to the rainbow Celebrate Pride avatars and oppose equal marriage, many users seem to have been taking it that way:

It’s kind of a stupid idea, given that it is possible to both celebrate Pride and be American. The backward, close-minded thinking that goes along with the movement would maybe better represented by the confederate flag.

With July 4 coming up, many people will be celebrating their Americanness - perhaps the perfect opportunity to reclaim the stars and stripes for the forces of good, which seems to be the aim of this particular American flag Facebook tool.