Pride at stake: Proposed flag ban and the battle for identity

The Pride Student Union’s door on Coming Out Day. Photo courtesy: Kamia Harrell

Florida’s proposed ban on political flags has generated intense debate, particularly among the LGBTQ+ community.

Senate Bill 100, introduced by Republican state Senator Randy Fine, seeks to prohibit the display of political flags on public buildings, including universities. If passed, the bill would not only affect the visibility of LGBTQ+ identities but also pose broader risks to the expression of diverse viewpoints in public spaces.

For Sage Pancake, the programming coordinator for the Pride Student Union at Florida State University, the proposed ban represents a direct threat to personal expression.

“I feel it definitely infringes upon First Amendment rights in general just to be able to express your views and values in your identity of who you are as a person,” Pancake said.

SB 100 states, “A governmental entity may not erect or display a flag that represents a political viewpoint, including, but not limited to, a politically partisan, racial, sexual orientation and gender, or political ideology viewpoint.”

However, the bill does not specifically name which flags would be banned. While Fine has pointed to flags associated with movements like Black Lives Matter and Palestine, he has also insinuated that the LGBTQ+ Pride flag could fall under the same restrictions.

In a recent press release, Fine said SB 100 will “ban the use of fictional country flags like Palestine, pro-violence Black Lives Matter flags, woke and pro-grooming ideological flags, and the flags of any political candidates in government buildings.”

While Fine did not explicitly mention the Pride flag, his remarks have fueled concerns about LGBTQ+ pride. For Pancake and other students in the LGBTQ+ community, the Pride flag is more than just a symbol.

“It is a sign that a space is safe for someone to be in and for them to be themselves in,” Pancake said. “Even as a kid, I never really got to see communities or spaces where I felt safe to be myself, so seeing pride flags out there reminds me that I am not alone in this.”

For Pancake, this bill could have a profound impact.

“It definitely will impact me and the lives of several other people as well, too,” Pancake said.

Pancake warns that removing symbols of safety and visibility could leave many students questioning their sense of community. 

“Taking that away would put many people in danger,” Pancake added. “Many people might not be able to be themselves, and make them wonder, ‘Am I alone in this?’” 

Despite previous legislative failures, Senator Fine’s continuous push for SB 100 has reignited fears among the LGBTQ+ community. As the bill moves forward, institutions like Florida State University and FAMU are bracing for the possibility of a contentious fight over free speech and expression.

In the face of this proposed legislation, many students and faculty members are rallying to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals to express their identities through symbols like the Pride flag.