Oklahoma Republicans introduce bill to ban Pride celebrations

This blog originally appeared at LGBTQ NATION.

The introduction of such a bill targeting Pride Month celebrations by Oklahoma Republicans reflects ongoing efforts to curtail LGBTQ+ rights and visibility in the state. It raises concerns about discrimination and exclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals from public recognition and acknowledgment of their identities and contributions to society.

The introduction of HB 3217, dubbed the “Patriotism Not Pride Act,” by Oklahoma Republicans is a significant move aimed at barring state agencies from recognizing or promoting LGBTQ+ Pride Month. This bill seeks to prevent the use of state funds for any activities or events related to Pride Month and prohibits the display of LGBTQ+ Pride flags on state grounds or property. It reflects a broader trend of legislative efforts to suppress LGBTQ+ visibility and rights, raising concerns about discrimination and erasure of LGBTQ+ communities’ identities and experiences.

It also declares a state of emergency “by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force” immediately after its passage and approval.

The introduction of bills similar to HB 3217 in Texas and Tennessee, which seek to ban LGBTQ+ pride flags in schools, underscores a broader trend of legislative efforts targeting LGBTQ+ visibility and rights across multiple states. These bills represent a concerted push by conservative lawmakers to suppress expressions of LGBTQ+ identity and pride within educational institutions. Such initiatives have raised concerns among LGBTQ+ advocates about the potential for discrimination and erasure of LGBTQ+ students’ experiences and identities in school environments.

West told NBC News that he authored the bill “because Oklahoma taxpayer dollars should not be used to promote or recognize activities that are not in line with the values of most Oklahomans.”

The LGBTQ+ community, he said, “would still have the freedom to express their views or opinions or tell the world about their lifestyle choices, they would simply not be able to use state resources to do so.”

Freedom Oklahoma executive director Nicole McAfee said the bill was “clearly designed to chill speech, and further disrupt the ability of Oklahoma agencies to serve” the state’s LGBTQ+ community.

“We’re everywhere — small towns, big cities, on tribal land, and everywhere in between,” McAfee said. “We make up communities, and even work for the state. You can’t ban us or disappear us, and it’s a shame that Rep. Kevin West is continuing his obsessive focus on targeting and isolating 2SLGBTQ+ Oklahomans with [this] latest attack. And yet, we’ve always been here and will always be here, during pride and beyond.”

The significant number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in Oklahoma, including HB 3217, reflects a concerning trend of legislative attacks on LGBTQ+ rights and visibility in the state. With nearly 400 similar bills introduced nationwide in 2024, Oklahoma’s Republican lawmakers stand out for their aggressive pursuit of anti-LGBTQ+ measures. This flurry of legislation underscores the ongoing battle for LGBTQ+ rights and protections at both the state and national levels, with advocates and activists mobilizing to oppose discriminatory laws and uphold equality and inclusion for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.