Oklahoma's "Patriotism Not Pride" bill would ban state agencies from using public funds or private donations for Pride Month celebrations.
The legislation will also prohibit Pride flags from being displayed on state-owned property, including public school grounds.
The House Committee on State Powers approved HB 3217 with a 7-2 vote on Wednesday.
Introduced by state Rep. Kevin West and state Sen. David Bullard, both Republicans, the bill would prohibit state agencies from using public funds or private donations 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.”
During the meeting, the original bill was amended to change "no state funds" to "no funds" so that private donations would also apply.
If passed, the law will trigger a state of emergency “necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety,” so it goes into effect immediately.
Rep. West told NBC News that he authored the legislation "because Oklahoma taxpayer dollars should not be used to promote or recognize activities that are not in line with the values of most Oklahomans."
"These groups 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," West continued.
Nicole McAfee, the executive director of Freedom Oklahoma, an LGBTQ group, told the outlet that the bill is "clearly designed to chill speech."
"We’re everywhere — small towns, big cities, on tribal land, and everywhere in between," McAfee said in a statement to NBC News. "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 legislation will now move to the full Oklahoma House of Representatives for consideration.
