Texas Senate Works to Ban Pride Flags From Classrooms But They Can't Define What a 'Flag' Is

The Texas Senate advanced a bill that would ban Pride flags from public school classrooms but the proposal has stirred confusion and criticism, especially since lawmakers pushing the measure can't clearly define what constitutes a "flag."

The fight over LGBTQ visibility in Texas schools is not new, but Senate Bill 762, introduced by Republican Sen. Donna Campbell, escalates the culture war, the Dallas Observer reported.

The bill seeks to ban the display of all but a dozen approved flags in Texas public school settings—specifically allowing national, state, military, and college flags while effectively excluding symbols like the Pride flag. Critics say the bill tiptoes around explicitly banning LGBTQ symbols, but the message is unmistakable.

Supporters of the bill argue that it brings uniformity and neutrality to school environments, but LGBTQ advocates see it as a thinly veiled attack. The vagueness surrounding the definition of what qualifies as a "flag" has added to the bill's controversy—raising questions about whether posters, pins, or other visual symbols could also be targeted.

Meanwhile, members of local organizations like the DFW Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence say the Pride flag is not just decoration. As Sister O.M. Gee, a nun with the DFW Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, put it, "Removing it doesn't protect anyone—it silences kids who already feel isolated."

If SB 762 passes, Texas schools may soon be forced to take down displays that promote LGBTQ acceptance, which critics fear could worsen mental health outcomes and bullying for queer youth.

"The Pride flag obviously began as kind of a symbol of resilience for the queer community and kind of a way for us to stand out and be seen," Gee said. "However, if you take that into today's context, especially with schools, having the ability to have Pride flags on school campuses gives queer youth and queer young adults, whether it be high school, college, middle school or even elementary, it gives them the identity that they exist."

Students, parents, and teachers are already preparing for the potential fallout, with some pledging to resist quietly through other forms of expression. Meanwhile, legal experts warn that any policy based on an unclear or overly broad definition of "flag" could open the door to lawsuits on First Amendment grounds.