Tennessee state lawmakers are advancing a bill that could impose limitations on the display of flags in public schools, igniting protest from LGBTQ advocates who assert that the legislation aims to ban the Pride flag and suppress free expression.
HB 1605, endorsed by the Tennessee state House and headed to the state Senate, proposes amendments to the Tennessee Code regulating the types of flags permissible for display in schools. The bill specifies approved flags, including the U.S. flag, the official Tennessee state flag, and any flag safeguarded by the Tennessee Heritage Protection Act.
Critics contend that the inclusion of the Tennessee Heritage Protection Act in the amendment opens the door for the Confederate flag’s display while prohibiting the Pride flag.
Enacted in 2013, the Heritage Protection Act stipulates that no public memorial related to historical conflicts or entities can be altered. While the law does not explicitly mention the Confederate flag, its protections extend to memorials and flags linked to the Civil War, commonly known as the War Between the States.
Tennessee State Representative Gino Bulso, a Republican, introduced HB1605 following parental complaints in his district regarding the Pride flag’s presence in schools. He cited contentious debates during local school board meetings over whether the flag should be permitted in classrooms as a motivating factor for the bill.
During a recent Tennessee House education subcommittee hearing, Bulso asserted that the legislation restricts the display of any flag beyond the specified ten, including flags used by teachers to promote specific values, such as the Pride flag. His claim that teachers are “indoctrinating” students by displaying the Pride flag drew audible disapproval from attendees at the hearing.
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Democratic State Representative Justin Pearson condemned the bill on the House floor, deeming it “immoral and unjust.” Pearson proposed an amendment to prohibit Confederate flags from being exhibited, but the amendment was not adopted. Despite facing criticism, Bulso remains resolute in his pursuit of the bill.