In a mild political upset, a Republican-backed state bill to ban the display of LGBTQ+ Pride flags in government buildings died in a Senate committee earlier this week.
Why it matters: Critics say the proposal, from state Rep. Gino Bulso and Sen. Joey Hensley, would have infringed on First Amendment rights and triggered free speech lawsuits.
What he's saying: In an impassioned speech (by state and local government committee standards), state Sen. Jeff Yarbro, a Nashville Democrat, appealed to his colleague's small government sensibilities in asking Republicans to vote no.
"Whether you go to Pride or celebrate Pride, you should support people's ability to have freedom, to follow the American way of life as they see fit," Yarbro argued. "This just goes too far."
Republican Sen. Page Walley said he voted no because he opposed "clawing back local government's ability to make decisions." Three other Republicans present at the committee hearing did not vote.
The other side: Bulso told the Nashville Scene he wanted to protect children.
"Anytime you're dealing with efforts to indoctrinate children at school and get them to adopt a particular political point of view, I consider that a serious matter."
