Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
On Wednesday, the House Public Service Subcommittee passed the “No Pride Flag or Month Act” which will prevent Pride flags from being displayed in state-owned facilities, including schools, and ensure there is no governmental recognition of a “Pride Month”.
HB1474 would mandate that LGBTQ flags or other emblems cannot be displayed or maintained on property owned by the state, any political subdivision of the state, or on any building or grounds of any such building by employees, volunteers, or agents of the state or its political subdivisions.
Per the legislation, an LGBTQ flag or emblem is defined as one “intended to display support for lesbianism, homosexuality, bisexuality, transgenderism, gender non-conforming behavior”, the rainbow, transgender, and equality flags, and any other “object, image or representation that uses the word ‘pride’ in a manner to convey lesbianism, homosexuality, bisexuality, transgenderism, or gender-non conforming behavior.”
Additionally, the state would be prohibited from officially recognizing or acknowledging the month of June or any other time as an “LGBT pride period.” The mandate would apply to an employee, volunteer, or agent of the state who is working in their official capacity.
During the subcommittee meeting on Wednesday, citizen testimony against the bill was heard with the speaker arguing it limits freedom of expression and First Amendment speech protections.
Bill sponsor Rep. Gino Bulso responded, “I think all of us would agree that schools are places where kids go to be educated, not to be indoctrinated. And it’s simply not appropriate for a Pride flag or any other partisan political flag to be displayed in a schoolhouse or in a school building. And similarly, think back to June of 2023, when President Biden hung the Pride flag from the Truman Balcony on the South Portico of the White House. Many of you will remember that image, the Pride flag hanging between two U.S. flags, given the place of prominence. That causes division. We’ve got the American flag, we’ve got the Tennessee flag, we have flags that unite us. Those are the flags we should display in our public buildings.
With regard to the First Amendment freedom of expression claims that have been raised… The U.S. Supreme Court addressed this issue in 2006 in Garcetti v Ceballos and said very clearly that when you are an employee, you do not have a right to say whatever you want in the context of your employment. It made a distinction between public speech and private speech. There is no First Amendment protection for public speech. A teacher who’s hired by a school district that is placed in front of the classroom does not enjoy a First Amendment protection to say whatever she wants to a classroom full of students. That right does not exist.”
Lone subcommittee Democrat Rep. Gabby Salinas called the bill “mean-spirited” and suggested the legislation would somehow limit the ability of women celebrating a pregnancy after a miscarriage or infant death, called “rainbow babies”, to display rainbows in images or other expressions, to which Bulso reiterated the bill specifically restricts flags or emblems which denote LGBTQ ideology, not the symbol of a rainbow itself.
Ultimately, the vote was 5-1 in favor of passage with the only “No” vote coming from Democrat Gabby Salinas.
The bill will now head to the full House State & Local Government Committee and is scheduled to be heard on 2/18/26. (contact information can be found below.)
On the Senate side, companion bill SB2409 carried by Sen. Joey Hensley, has yet to be given a date for the Senate State and Local Government Committee.
Rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.dave.wright@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.vincent.dixie@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov
rep.michael.lankford@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.greg.martin@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jake.mccalmon@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.bo.mitchell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov; rep.dave.wright@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ed.butler@capitol.tn.gov; rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov; rep.vincent.dixie@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov; rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.michael.lankford@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov; rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov; rep.greg.martin@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jake.mccalmon@capitol.tn.gov; rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov; rep.bo.mitchell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tim.rudd@capitol.tn.gov; rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov; rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
3 Responses
Because working on things like education, the economy, and infrastructure is just TOO DARNED DIFFICULT.
“Education” being infested with lucifer’s accursed pervert dimmercraps makes this necessary.
Thanx! Emailed committee, “YES!!”