Oklahoma Republicans introduce bill to ban Pride celebrations

Oklahoma Republicans continued their attacks on the state’s LGBTQ+ community this week by introducing a bill that would ban state agencies from celebrating Pride Month.

On Monday, state Rep. Kevin West (R) and state Sen. David Bullard (R) introduced HB 3217, or the “Patriotism Not Pride Act.” The bill bans state agencies from using state funds to “develop, organize, administer, engage in, promote, or endorse any activity, including any event, initiative, official communication, social media post, educational program, or public campaign, that aims to promote or recognize Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Pride Month or any event with a similar theme.” It would also ban all LGBTQ+ Pride flags from being displayed on state grounds or property.

Related:

GOP lawmakers in two states are trying to ban Pride flags in schools

One of the bills would ban Pride flags even on government buildings

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.

Stay connected to your community

Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter.

Daily

Weekly

Good News

Similar bills banning LGBTQ+ pride flags in schools were introduced by state Republicans in Texas and Tennessee in December.

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.”

HB 3217 is the latest of 54 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in Oklahoma this year. According to the ACLU, nearly 400 such pieces of legislation have been introduced in states across the country in 2024, with Oklahoma Republicans introducing more than any other state so far.