The Tennessee House of Representatives has voted yes to a bill that would ban teachers and schools from wearing or displaying any flag other than the state and United States flags. The ban would apply to publicly funded schools and is expected to be hammered out in the state Senate next week.
The proposal does not specifically mention pride flags, but Republican lawmakers have been clear that the law would be meant to limit them.
Unclear as southern state flag is banned
The Republican politician behind the proposal is called Gino Bulso. He has said in previous interviews that the pride flag represents values that he does not stand behind. Among other things, he is a strong opponent of same-sex marriage.
– 15 years ago we had a common view of what marriage is. We don’t have that anymore, he said in an interview with a local TV channel in January.
Democrats have, according to The Guardian, repeatedly asked Gino Bulso whether the controversial southern state flag would also be banned under the new law. The flag can according to Expo symbolizing a stance against the abolition of slavery and for racism, but also being a nostalgic symbol of the American South. Gino Bulso has so far refused to answer the question.
Arouses anger
The bill is provoking anger among LGBTQI activists.
– The flag is a symbol of acceptance. If a teacher has a little pride flag on their desk, or a little pin on their bag, it signals to students that “I’m a safe person to turn to,” says Chris Sanders, director of the nonprofit organization Tennessee Equality Project.
The organization believes that the new law will ultimately affect all residents of the state as, according to them, it is “another step in limiting freedom of expression”.
The law would be the latest in a series of new laws enacted in Tennessee aimed at limiting the rights of LGBTQI people. This year alone, 33 new anti-LGBTQ laws have been enacted in the state.