Tennessee GOP votes to keep Confederate flags in classrooms but ban pride flags

If a bill now racing through the Tennessee legislature becomes law, as it almost certainly will, it will become illegal to display a pride flag at a public school in a location where any student might see it. It’s one of a long line of moves made by Tennessee’s Republican-dominated legislature to demonstrate their disdain and disapproval of LGBTQ+ Americans.

As this bill was rapidly heading toward a final vote, Democratic Rep. Justin Pearson introduced an amendment.

“This legislation is immoral and unjust. I’m against it in its entirety,” said Pearson. “I believe that what is doing and the signal that it is sending is evil and wrong.” But he had a proposal: If the legislature is going to ban pride flags from the classroom, shouldn’t it at least ban the display of, as Tennessee still cringingly calls it, a “war between the states” flag? Also known as a Confederate battle flag. 

It took Republicans literally seconds to cut off debate and crush the amendment. If there’s one time the Tennessee legislature feels strongly about protecting free speech rights, it’s when those rights involve a symbol promoting racism and treason against the United States.