A new bill aiming to ban Pride flags from public schools will be debated during the upcoming session of the 113th Tennessee General Assembly, sparking concerns among some LGBTQ students and allied community members.
As introduced, House Bill 1605, sponsored by District 61 Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood), would ban the display of any flags other than those of the United States and the state of Tennessee from public schools and public charter schools.
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm(9:=6 E96 3:==VD =2?8F286 5@6D?VE 6IA=:4:E=J >6?E:@? !C:56 7=28D[ qF=D@ :D @A6? 23@FE E96 @C:8:?D @7 E96 3:==[ E6==:?8 k6>m!@DEk^6>m D:DE6C AF3=:42E:@? k6>m%96 }6HDk^6>m 96 92D C646:G65 ?F>6C@FD 4@>A=2:?ED 7C@> (:==:2>D@? r@F?EJ 4@?DE:EF6?ED — :?4=F5:?8 A2C6?ED 2?5 2 D49@@= 3@2C5 >6>36C — DA64:7:42==J 23@FE E96 5:DA=2J @7 !C:56 7=28D :? D49@@=D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“u=28D E92E 2C6 E96C6 E@ AC6D6?E 2 A@=:E:42= G:6HA@:?E[ E92E 2C6 C62==J ?@E 7@C 2?J 65F42E:@?2= AFCA@D6[ 3FE C62==J D:>A=J E@ :?5@4EC:?2E6 DEF56?ED H:E9 C682C5D E@ 2 A2CE:4F=2C A@=:E:42= A@:?E @7 G:6H[” qF=D@ D2:5] “(6VC6 8@:?8 E@ 36 6IA2?5:?8 E96 3:== E@ 255 D@>6 DF3DE2?46 E@ 255C6DD @E96C EJA6D @7 7=28D E92E 42? G6CJ AC@A6C=J 36 5:DA=2J65 H:E9@FE 2?J@?6 ECJ:?8 E@ >2<6 2 A@=:E:42= DE2E6>6?E[ 2?5 H6V== 36 255:?8 D@>6E9:?8 @7 2 AC@465FC2= 67764E H:E9 C682C5 E@ 9@H :E >2J 36 6?7@C465 2?5 3J H9@>]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm!@E6?E:2= 2>6?5>6?ED H:== :?4=F56 6I46AE:@?D 7@C 7=28D @7 @E96C DE2E6D[ 4@F?EC:6D[ AC@G:?46D[ @E96C @C82?:K2E:@?D DF49 2D 2 D49@@=VD #~%r AC@8C2>D[ 7=28D 9@?@C:?8 &]$] D6CG:46 >6>36CD H9@ 2C6 >:DD:?8 :? 24E:@? @C 96=5 2D AC:D@?6CD @7 H2C[ @C “2?JE9:?8 E92E 92D 9:DE@C:42= 4@?E6IE]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“%96C6’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2? 677@CE >256 E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E E96C6 2C6 ?@E 2?J F?:?E6?565 4@?D6BF6?46D 7C@> E96 3:==[ 3642FD6 H6==\5C27E65 =68:D=2E:@? 5@6D ?@E 92G6 F?:?E6?565 4@?D6BF6?46D[” qF=D@ D2:5[ 255:?8 E92E 96 H2?ED E@ “4@?E:?F6 E@ <66A D49@@=D 2D 2 A=246 E@ =62C? 2?5 ?@E 2 A=246 E@ 36 :?5@4EC:?2E65]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm!C:56 7=28D :? D49@@=D 92G6 366? 2 9@E E@A:4 7@C >@?E9D 5FC:?8 AF3=:4 4@>>6?E A@CE:@?D @7 (:==:2>D@? r@F?EJ $49@@=D 3@2C5 >66E:?8D[ D6EE:?8 E96 8C@F?5H@C< 7@C E96 =68:D=2E:@?] $@>6 @AA@?6?ED @7 !C:56 7=28D :? D49@@=D 92G6 2C8F65 5FC:?8 D49@@= 3@2C5 >66E:?8D E92E E96 7=28D 2C6 :?2AAC@AC:2E6 @C E@@=D @7 :?5@4EC:?2E:@?]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm~E96C A2C6?ED 2?5 DEF56?ED 92G6 2C8F65 E92E E96 7=28D 4@>>F?:42E6 E@ GF=?6C23=6 DEF56?ED E92E E96C6 2C6 2446AE:?8 2?5 DFAA@CE:G6 E62496CD 2?5 DE277 >6>36CD H9@ AC@G:56 D276 DA246D 7@C {vq%" DEF56?ED] pD C6A@CE65 3J kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96EC6G@CAC@;64E]@C8^DFCG6J\a_ab^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm%96 %C6G@C !C@;64E’D a_ab &]$] }2E:@?2= $FCG6J @? E96 |6?E2= w62=E9 @7 {vq%" *@F?8 !6@A=6k^2mk^DEC@?8m[ {vq%" DEF56?ED 2C6 2E 2 9:89 C:D< 7@C 92C2DD>6?E 2?5 >6?E2= 962=E9 492==6?86D C6=2E65 E@ E96:C D6IF2= @C 86?56C :56?E:EJ]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“%@ ;FDE D6?5 E96 >6DD286 E92E BF66C A6@A=6 2C6 :?2AAC@AC:2E6 7@C D49@@=D :D H:=5[ 3642FD6 xV> 2 BF66C A6CD@? :? D49@@=[” qC6?EH@@5 w:89 $49@@= D6?:@C p>6=:2 rC@?6J E@=5 k6>m%96 }6HDk^6>m]k^Am
Rep. Gino Bulso
Photo: Hamilton Matthew MasterskA 5:ClQ=ECQmrC@?6J D6CG6D 2D E96 DEF56?E =6256C @7 E96 qw$ 492AE6C @7 kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^H:=4@:C:D]@C8^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm(:=4@ xC:Dk^2mk^DEC@?8m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ “DEF56?E\=65[ 25F=E\724:=:E2E65 D276 DA246 7@C {vq%"xpZ E66?D 2?5 E96:C 2==:6D[ 8C256D h\`a[ :? (:==:2>D@? r@F?EJ]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmrC@?6J 92D 2EE6?565 (r$ D:?46 <:?56C82CE6?[ :D 2 kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96?6HDE?]4@>^D49@@=D^=@42=\DEF56?ED\?2>65\?2E:@?2=\>6C:E\D49@=2CD9:A\D6>:7:?2=:DED^2CE:4=6025dd__7e\daeh\``66\3ac5\f7565dee364h]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm}2E:@?2= |6C:E $6>:7:?2=:DEk^2mk^DEC@?8m 2?5 :D @? EC24< E@ D6CG6 2D 4=2DD D2=FE2E@C:2?]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“x 2> (:==:2>D@? r@F?EJVD A@DE6C 49:=5[ 2?5 E96J DE:== 2C6 ECJ:?8 E@ A2DD E96D6 =2HD E92E H@F=5 92C> >6 2?5 >2<6 >J 65F42E:@?2= ;@FC?6J =6DD DF446DD7F=[Q rC@?6J D2:5]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmyFDE AC:@C E@ 364@>:?8 2 7C6D9>2?[ rC@?6J 42>6 @FE[ 3FE D2:5 C646?E kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6D46?6]4@>^?6HD^4:EJ=:>:ED^C6D@FC46D\7@C\=83EB\?2D9G:==:2?D^2CE:4=60h7f2_a4_\34d6\``65\h2c5\`b5db772g64g]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2?E:\{vq%" =68:D=2E:@? :? %6??6DD66k^2mk^DEC@?8m 92D >256 a_ab “C62==J E6CC:7J:?8[” 3@E9 :? 2?5 @FED:56 @7 D49@@=]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmrC@?6J D2:5 E92E H9:=6 D@>6 !C:56 7=28D @C :>286D @7 !C:56 7=28D 2C6 AC6D6?E :? (r$ D49@@=D[ E96J 2C6 ?@E 2D AC6G2=6?E 2D D@>6 >2<6 :E D66>[ E6==:?8 k6>m%96 }6HDk^6>m E92E E96J 2C6 @7E6? 7@F?5 @? E96 5@@CD 2?5 :? E96 @77:46D @7 4@F?D6=@CD[ :? D@>6 E62496CD’ H@C< 2C62D @C @? E96 4=@E9:?8 @C AC@A6CEJ @7 DEF56?ED] $96 D2:5 D@>6 E62496CD 5:DA=2J @E96C D>2== DJ>3@=D E@ D9@H E96J 2C6 :?4=FD:G6[ 255:?8 E92E @E96C E62496CD 92G6 6IAC6DD65 E92E E96J 49@@D6 ?@E E@ 5:DA=2J !C:56 7=28D 7@C 762C @7 4@>A=2:?ED 7C@> A2C6?ED]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmrC@?6J 2=D@ D2JD E92E @?6 qw$ E62496C 2=D@ 5:DA=2JD EH@ kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6HJ@C<6C]4@>^?6HD^?6HD\56D<^E96\D9:7E:?8\DJ>3@=:D>\@7\E96\825D56?\7=28Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmv25D56? 7=28Dk^2mk^DEC@?8m[ 2 DJ>3@= E92E[ H9:=6 C@@E65 :? E96 p>6C:42? #6G@=FE:@?[ 92D D:?46 366? 4@\@AE65 3J E96 p>6C:42? 72C C:89E]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“%96J <?@H E92E :E H:== 36 6?7@C465 G6CJ D6=64E:G6=J E@ 36 FD65 DA64:7:42==J 282:?DE >2C8:?2=:K65 4@>>F?:E:6D[” rC@?6J D2:5 @7 E96 =68:D=2E:@?[ 255:?8 E92E E96 !C:56 7=28D :? 4=2DDC@@>D 42? 24E 2D 2 56E6CC6?E E@ H@F=5\36 3F==:6D H9@ <?@H 92C2DD>6?E H@?’E 36 E@=6C2E65]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“(6 46CE2:?=J H2?E E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E 2?JE:>6 2?J@?6 962CD 2?J DF886DE:@? E92E 2 AC@76DD:@?2= E62496C >:89E 36 E2=<:?8 23@FE E96:C A6CD@?2= @A:?:@?D[ =6E FD <?@H[ H6 H:== 46CE2:?=J :?G6DE:82E6 E92E[ 2?5 H6 E2=< 23@FE E92E C68F=2C=J[” (:==:2>D@? r@F?EJ $49@@=D $FA6C:?E6?56?E y2D@? v@=56? D2:5 5FC:?8 E96 3@2C5VD }@G6>36C >66E:?8] “p=D@[ H6 H2?E E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E H6 C6DA64E E92E E62496CD 5@ 92G6 E92E A6CD@?2= DA246 2D H6== 2?5 42? 92G6 D@>6 A6CD@?2= :E6>D C6=2E65 E@ E92E[ D@ :E :D E92E 5:77:4F=E AC@76DD:@?2= 32=2?46 E92E 92D 366? 2 =@?8DE2?5:?8 DE2?52C5 :? E9:D ,4@F?EJ. 7@C 564256D E92E H6 9@?@C]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“u@C @FC <:5D H9@ 2C6 >2C8:?2=:K65 2E D49@@=D[ E96 D>2== =:EE=6 !C:56 7=28D <:?5 @7 D6?5 E96> 2 >6DD286 @7 E92E :?4=FD:G:EJ 2?5 D276 DA246[ 2?5 E92E E96C6VD A6@A=6 E92E J@F 42? ECFDE 2E D49@@=[” (:=4@ xC:D AC6D:56?E 2?5 25F=E 7@F?5:?8 >6>36C tG6 q@86C E@=5 k6>m%96 }6HDk^6>m] “(96? E92E :D 24E:G6=J C6>@G65 2?5 ?@E 2==@H65 2?5 92D E@ 92G6 2 =2H AFE :? A=246 E@ @77:4:2==J 32? :E[ E92E D6?5D 2 >6DD286 E92E @FC 4@>>F?:EJ @7 BF66C J@FE9 :D ?@E H@CE9 36:?8 46=63C2E65 @C AC@E64E65[ 2?5 xV> 4@?46C?65 :E C62==J AFED E96> 2E C:D< @7 7FCE96C 3F==J:?8 2?5 ?@E 36:?8 :? 2 D276 DA246]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmrC:E:4D @7 E96 7=28D :?4=F56 >6>36CD @7 E96 (:==:2>D@? r@F?EJ 492AE6C @7 kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]C6FE6CD]4@>^H@C=5^FD^FD\AC6D:56?E:2=\DF>>:E\96C2=5D\>@>D\=:36CEJ\>2;@C\a_ac\A=2J6C\a_ab\_e\b_^RiOiE6IEl{2F?4965Ta_:?Ta_a_a`Ta_2ETa_E96[:56?E:EJTa_4@?46AEDTa_E@Ta_6=6>6?E2CJTasTa_2?5Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm|@>D 7@C {:36CEJk^2mk^DEC@?8m[ 2 C:89E\H:?8 24E:G:DE 8C@FA E92E 92D D66? D@>6 @7 :ED >6>36CD DA62< @FE 282:?DE E96 7=28D 5FC:?8 D49@@= 3@2C5 >66E:?8D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“p==@H:?8 @?=J E96 DE2E6 2?5 &]$] 7=28D E@ 36 7=@H? :? E2IA2J6C\7F?565 D49@@=D C6>@G6D E96 A@E6?E:2= 7@C 5:DEC24E:@? @C 4@?7=:4ED E92E E2<6 E:>6 2H2J 7C@> E96 65F42E:@?2= >:DD:@? @7 @FC D49@@= DJDE6>[” |@>D 7@C {:36CEJ %6??6DD66 =68:D=2E:G6 492:C t=:K236E9 $E@CJ E@=5 k6>m%96 }6HDk^6>m]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“w2G:?8 2 4=62C DE2E6 A@=:4J H:== 2=D@ C6>@G6 AC6DDFC6 7C@> E96 D49@@=D E@ >65:2E6 7=28\C6=2E65 4@?7=:4ED]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm$E@CJ D2:5 E92E H9:=6 |@>D 7@C {:36CEJ DFAA@CE E96 4FCC6?E DE2E6 @7 E96 3:==[ E96J H:== 36 7@==@H:?8 E96 AC@8C6DD @7[ 2?5 2?J A@E6?E:2= 2>6?5>6?ED E@[ E96 =68:D=2E:@? E9C@F89@FE E96 D6DD:@?] %96 8C@FA D2:5 :E H:== 2=D@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ 7@4FD @? 2?5 25G@42E6 7@C “6?DFC:?8 4@?E6?E :? z\`a D49@@=D :D 286\2AAC@AC:2E6 2?5 7@4FD65 @? 65F42E:@?2= 8C@HE9 H:E9@FE 92C>]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx? pF8FDE[ qF=D@[ H9@ :D 2=D@ 2? 2EE@C?6J[ 7:=65 2 kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96?6HDE?]4@>^D49@@=D^=2HDF:E\42==D\7@C\C6>@G2=\@7\@3D46?6\3@@<D\7C@>\H:==:2>D@?\4@F?EJ\D49@@=D\=:3C2C:6D^2CE:4=60f5_e_afe\cbg2\``66\222b\3b65h53d6cb3]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm=2HDF:Ek^2mk^DEC@?8m 282:?DE (r$ @? 3692=7 @7 A2C6?ED @G6C E96 AC6D6?46 @7 D6G6C2= 3@@<D :? D49@@= =:3C2C:6D E92E E96J 42== “@3D46?6 >2E6C:2=D]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmqF=D@ AFD965 324< 282:?DE E9@D6 H9@ D2J E92E 32??:?8 !C:56 7=28D 7C@> D49@@=D H:== 42FD6 92C> @C 5:DEC6DD E@ {vq%" DEF56?ED[ E6==:?8 k6>m%96 }6HDk^6>m E92E 96 H2?ED D49@@=D E@ 36 H6=4@>:?8 E@ 2== DEF56?ED]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“x? 6G6CJE9:?8 E92E 6G6CJ E62496C @C 4@F?D6=@C @C 25>:?:DEC2E@C 5@6D[ E96J ?665 E@ >2<6 4=62C E92E @FC D49@@=D 2C6 H6=4@>:?8 2?5 @A6? 2?5 ?FCEFC:?8 7@C 6G6CJ@?6[” qF=D@ D2:5] “%96C6 :D ?@ ?665 E@ FD6 2 A@=:E:42= 7=28 E@ >2<6 E92E A@:?Ej E92E A@:?E D9@F=5 36 >256 3J E96 H2J E92E E96J 4@?5F4E E96>D6=G6D :? 4=2DD]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96?6HDE?]4@>^D49@@=D^E6??6DD66\3:==\2:>D\E@\32?\AC:56\7=28D\7C@>\AF3=:4\D49@@=D^2CE:4=607d`a_`5_\2eef\``66\h36d\df2`5`4b6f6b]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 H2D 7:CDE AF3=:D965 3Jk^6>mk^2m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96?6HDE?]4@>^D49@@=D^E6??6DD66\3:==\2:>D\E@\32?\AC:56\7=28D\7C@>\AF3=:4\D49@@=D^2CE:4=607d`a_`5_\2eef\``66\h36d\df2`5`4b6f6b]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm!@DEk^2m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96?6HDE?]4@>^D49@@=D^E6??6DD66\3:==\2:>D\E@\32?\AC:56\7=28D\7C@>\AF3=:4\D49@@=D^2CE:4=607d`a_`5_\2eef\``66\h36d\df2`5`4b6f6b]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmk6>mD:DE6C AF3=:42E:@? k^6>mk^2mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96?6HDE?]4@>^D49@@=D^E6??6DD66\3:==\2:>D\E@\32?\AC:56\7=28D\7C@>\AF3=:4\D49@@=D^2CE:4=607d`a_`5_\2eef\``66\h36d\df2`5`4b6f6b]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm%96 }6HD]k^2mk^Am
