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Oklahoma: Bill introduced which would prohibit use of state funds to celebrate Pride Month

The proposal also seeks to prohibit rainbow flags from being displayed in public buildings at any time of the year.

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cRepublican Kevin West introduced a bill in the Oklahoma Legislature that seeks to prohibit state agencies from using funds to celebrate Pride Month or display rainbow flags on state property at any time of the year.

The bill, called the Patriotism Not Pride Act, establishes that "no state funds may be used by any agency 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 being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.

Oklahoma 2024 HB3217 Introduced by Williams Perdomo on Scribd

The bill had its first reading this Monday and still needs to be approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

The proposal joins efforts by other states to ban state funds from being used for LGBT policies. The Florida Board of Education announced Wednesday that public universities will not be able to use state or federal money for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

"In Florida, we will not tolerate the use of public funds for divisive DEI programs in Florida's colleges," wrote state Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. "It is unacceptable to use taxpayer dollars to support programs that categorize individuals by their race or sex."

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