Jesse Scheckner
City hall flagpoles around Florida could lose some color if a bill by Rep. David Borrero passes in the upcoming Session.
Borrero, a Sweetwater Republican, refiled a proposal (HB 901) that would prohibit local governments and agencies from flying the LGBTQ pride flag or any other banner representing a social or political position.
“The government agency must remain neutral when representing political viewpoints in displaying or erecting a flag,” the measure says.
As written, HB 901 would ban local governments, government agencies and public schools, colleges and universities from displaying any flag that represents a partisan, racial, sexual, gender or political viewpoint.
It also requires that in cases where the United States flag is flown near or alongside other flags, the U.S. flag must be in a “prominent position that is superior to any other” on display.
Borrero’s bill is similar to legislation he and Tampa Republican Sen. Jay Collins filed in February (SB 668).
Borrero’s bill would have only allowed the U.S., Florida, Firefighter Memorial and POW-MIA flags to be flown at government facilities. Collins’ measure, initially, would have only permitted flags the Governor approves.
Collins later filed an amendment with a list of allowable flags, including the Confederate flag, but quickly withdrew it and his original bill from consideration.
Both versions of the legislation died after gaining little traction in their respective chambers.
Opposition to the rainbow pride flag and other symbols being flown for public view have persisted for years. Under Gov. Ron DeSantis, who signed bills restricting LGBTQ-inclusive classroom instruction, drag performances and policies prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion, complaints about the flags have grown louder and in few cases turned physical.
Last year, a parent sued the Palm Beach County school district over a pair of pride flags hung in his seventh-grade child’s classroom. He echoed DeSantis’ repeated assertion that the flag represents a concerted effort to “indoctrinate” kids.
18 comments
TallyPatriot
December 18, 2023 at 1:26 pm
If they want to restrict it then we should only allow the US flag and the state flag. That is it. No other flags.
John H Bell
December 19, 2023 at 3:33 pm
what, exactly, is a flag.
Are team emblems forbidden?
Bwj
December 18, 2023 at 3:14 pm
Since when did the Confederate flag not represent a political view?
JD
December 18, 2023 at 4:04 pm
Who gives a sh!t what a locality flys as long as it’s below the US and state flags?
Yo, lawmaker, fix my f@cking homeowners and car insurance since you have so much time on your hands to worry about some gay flag.
“It’s not the heat, it’s the stupidity”
Robert
December 19, 2023 at 11:05 am
Not everyone in the country is Gay. Just like not everyone is Black, if they flew the Junteeth flag, it would not represent White folks any more than flying the Gay flag would represent Straight folks. The only flag that should fly on a government site or school should be the Stars & Stripes and a State Flag.
JD
December 19, 2023 at 12:08 pm
Again, I don’t care what they fly under the two I stated.
Does it hurt or help to have any other flag under the two stated?
This bill is a waste of legislative time (and money) is my point. Like many of the other culture wars.
But if people want to make a big deal, just ban all of them but the National and State flags and be done with it.
Dont Say FLA
December 18, 2023 at 6:58 pm
Bad the pride flag and the gays will adopt the USA flag just like the insurrectionists did. It’s already too hard to tell if a house flying the USA flag has insurrectionists or elderlies living there. We’re going to add gays to the confusion? DUMB
Michael K
December 19, 2023 at 4:56 am
Republicans just won’t stop trying to erase LGBTQ people. Why do they care if a local community wants to show love and support?
It’s all about throwing hate and bigotry to the MAGAs.
Richard Russell
December 19, 2023 at 10:47 am
Love and support for a perverted life style – take it and stick where the sun don’t shine. We don’t care to see you prancing in the streets, unless you are in a circus. But they may not want to see you in their midst. If you must, keep it behind closed doors – where it belongs.
Michael K
December 19, 2023 at 11:55 am
I rest my case: This is not about a flag – it’s about imposing an irrational fear and hatred of LGBTQ people in an attempt to force people back into living a lie in fear for their lives, and livelihood.
John H Bell
December 19, 2023 at 3:36 pm
W E
Robert
December 19, 2023 at 11:06 am
Not everyone in the country is Gay. Just like not everyone is Black, if they flew the Junteeth flag, it would not represent White folks any more than flying the Gay flag would represent Straight folks. The only flag that should fly on a government site or school should be the Stars & Stripes and a State Flag.
Sonja Fitch
December 19, 2023 at 7:02 am
Omg! The American Flag is the visual of common good! Only since Trump and Desantis have I witnessed the abuse of the American way of common good. These two men, Desantis and Trump
Are the leaders of the destruction of the common good!
Richard Russell
December 19, 2023 at 10:43 am
There should only be a max of two flags, preferably only one which would be the United States flag, but if a second flag, it should only be the state’s official flag.
Ron Forrest Ron
December 19, 2023 at 3:30 pm
Perhaps this guy should unwad his panties, run them up a pole, let them air out ’cause they super smelly
no fag flags
December 19, 2023 at 5:24 pm
no fag flags on any government building
Anette Nixon
December 19, 2023 at 9:38 pm
I’m so embarrassed for my state of Florid. Can’t wait for DeSantis to be a memory. #pride
Michael
December 23, 2023 at 9:48 am
Here we go again!! Republicans chant “no big government”
Republicans continue to hypocritically stomp on perfectly legal actions people and entities choose!
STAY OUT OF THE PERSONAL LIVES OF PEOPLE
To those haters of gay people:
MOST of you are religious zealots bent on forcing people who don’t share your ignorance to comply with your unscientific and untrue lies
YIUR religious books are NOVELS, not history! THEY PREACH , hate, bigotry and propose the murder of gay people . In one breath many of you claim your God is in charge of everything, while in your next breath you judge it’s creations ( gay people)
How many millions of people have you “Christian’s” and Muslims” murdered in the name of your God??? Jews have blood on their hands too !
Religion is man made invention to control other human beings! They are nothing but cults! Like anything synthetic, no matter if the original intent was righteous, religion is used to justify heinous behavior, violence , bigotry etc. religious freedom also includes FREEDOM FROM ALL YOUR RELIGIONS!!
fro the record , IM NOT WHAT MOST OF YOU WOULD RUSH TO LABEL A “Liberal” , by no means! I’m not godless either!
I want , per OUR CONSTITUTION, ALL YOUR RELIGIOUS DOGMA OUT OF OUR GOVERNMENT!
Gay people are born that way!! Got it?
Next time, especially you “CHRISTIANS” CHOOSE to hate and judge, ask yourself “WHAT WOULD YOUR JESUS THINK OF YOUR BEHAVIOR?”
GET YOUR PRIORITIES IN ORDER!
FLORIDA is a mess!
It is NOT a law and order state! 5 minutes on our roads will prove it! Refusal to respect city codes . Highest insurance rates in the country because the state refuses to enforce its laws pertaining to driving, and housing insurance . Allowing runaway development leading to the traffic issues we endure, the list is too long
Instead your religions lure you to be invested about people and things that hurt NOONE INCLUDING YOU!
Practice your faith i your home by all means’
Leave the rest of us alone!
Enough is enough!
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