The Republican-led Tennessee House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban the display of gay pride flags in school classrooms.
The House passed the bill in a 70-24 vote Monday that sent the legislation to the Senate, where a final vote could take place this week.
Known as House Bill 1605, it states that schools “shall not display any flag other than the flag of the United States and the official flag of the state of Tennessee on or within a public school.”
Republicans interrupted a heated debate over the legislation, prompting Democratic Rep. Justin Jones to shout that House Speaker Cameron Sexton was out of line and ignoring people’s requests to speak.
Republicans, in turn, rebuked Jones by voting him out of line, halting his immediate comments.
The Republican-led Tennessee House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban the display of gay pride flags in school classrooms. House Speaker Cameron Sexton walks alongside protesters.
Known as House Bill 1605, it states that schools “shall not display any flag other than the flag of the United States and the official flag of the state of Tennessee on or within a public school.”
Republicans interrupted a heated debate that led Democratic Rep. Justin Jones (pictured) to shout that House Speaker Cameron Sexton was out of line.
Before that, at least two people against the bill were kicked out of the gallery over conversations about the process, while Democrats and other opponents criticized the legislation for unfairly limiting an important symbol of the LGBTQ+ community in schools.
According The TennesseeThe bill, sponsored by Rep. Gino Bulso, would prohibit the display of any flag that “represents a political point of view, including, but not limited to, a partisan, racial, sexual orientation, gender or other point of view.” ideological view”.
Bulso said parents approached him with complaints about “political flags” in classrooms.
‘Do parents have the right to instill in their own children values with which they agree?’ Bulso said during Monday’s vote.
‘If there are parents across the state who want to instill in their children the values represented by the pride flag, they certainly have the right to do so. On the other hand, if there are parents who want to instill values in their children that are not consistent with the values represented by the pride flag, they have the ability to do so.’
“What this bill does is preserve tolerance across the board for all parents and all school-aged children,” he said.
He said the bill’s exceptions could apply to Confederate flags for approved curriculum and certain historical items that can no longer be removed without broad state approval.
Approved flags include the United States and Tennessee flags and those considered protected historical items under state law.
Flags of Native American tribes, armed forces of local governments and prisoners of war or missing in action, other countries and their local governments, colleges or universities, or flags of the schools themselves are approved.
Opponents of the bill said it discriminates against members of the LGBTQ community.
Representative Jason Powell said: ‘I am against this bill. I think it’s a terrible idea. “Right now, this bill is aimed at students.”
Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, introduces a bill in the House of Representatives that would prevent Pride flags from being displayed in schools during a legislative session, Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo /George Walker IV)
The proposal marks another development in the ongoing battle for LGBTQ rights in Tennessee. In 2023, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a law banning gender-based child health care.
The Senate version of the bill would be more restrictive on who could sue over a flag, limiting it to students at that specific school, the parents or guardians of those students or employees there.
The proposal marks another development in the ongoing battle over LGBTQ rights in Tennessee, where the state’s conservative leaders have already taken steps to restrict classroom conversations about gender and sexuality, ban gender-affirming care and limit events where certain drag artists can appear.
In March, Gov. Bill Lee signed a law banning gender-based child health care.
In addition to the treatment ban, Lee also passed a new law banning “adult-oriented” entertainment, such as drag shows, on public property.
In June, a federal judge appointed by Trump ruled that the law limiting public drag performances was unconstitutional.