Representative Gino Bulso’s, R-Brentwood, bill that would prohibit pride flags in classrooms advanced from a House Subcommittee Tuesday, but not without vocal opposition from Representative Sam McKenzie, D-Knoxville.
That bill would only allow the Tennessee State Flag, the United States Flag, and other flags representing a country or political subdivision to be displayed. Representative McKenzie called the bill dangerous.
“We were not elected to push things like this. There’s no indoctrination. Indoctrination comes with teaching and if they’re teaching the concepts, if they’re teaching these principles, it’s not in their rubric, they’re not bringing it home, you’re going to stay engaged with their family, if they’re doing that, there’s laws on the books today to deal with that. But to have a flag displayed is not indoctrination,” said McKenzie.
McKenzie was the lone recorded no vote in the House K-12 Subcommittee that began debating this bill last week and postponed voting to add an amendment that requires parents to notify the school district before filing suit for a violation.
Representative Bulso disagreed with McKenzie, saying he believes pride flags do indoctrinate students in a set of values that parents have raised concerns about.
“What this language does is make crystal clear that both flags and images of flags that are used to try to teach students a particular set of values that may or may not correspond to values that they’re learning at home is not going to be allowed,” said Bulso.
Bulso specified that the bill’s broad language covers both flags and images of flags displayed anywhere in a classroom.
Before advancing the legislation, committee members also heard from mother and nurse Eva Frasca. She testified against the bill, warning legislators that it crosses a dangerous line.
“The sponsor stated last week that he and others do not agree with the values of the LGBTQI+ community. And do not want those values to be visible to school children in the form of the pride flag. However, in this country, which was founded on the values of equality and freedom, we do not pass laws based on individuals’ personal prejudices,” said Frasca. “We the People have been warned over and over again to be vigilant in ensuring that American democracy does not temper into tyranny. This bill exemplifies the casual cruelty that can be inflicted upon our own citizens when that dangerous line is crossed.”
The bill now moves to the Education Administration Committee.
