Tennessee moves away from Pride, designates June as 'Nuclear Family Month'

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has signed a state House resolution that designates June as "Nuclear Family Month." The move was widely criticized by LGBTQ groups, who note that June is widely celebrated as Pride Month internationally.

The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Bud Hulsey, states, "the nuclear family, consisting of one husband, one wife, and any biological, adopted, or fostered children, is God's design for familial structure and has been the bedrock of society since the creation of the world." It says that the nuclear family is the "basic building block" of Tennessee and the United States.

The resolution noted that fatherless families and children face hardships as compared to families with married couples, including increased chances for poverty, mental health and behavioral issues, suicides, dropping out of high school, and ending up in prison.

"Tennessee's values do not align with the humanistic, globalist ideologies of the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and like-minded organizations that fight for population control through the means of promoting sterilization and abortion practices," the bill states, adding, "the nuclear family is God's perfect design for humanity and is aligned with the long-held traditional values of Tennessee."

"The nuclear family is under attack in our beloved State and nation, and it is our responsibility to uplift, protect, and support values that help Tennessee prosper."

The bill was originally meant to designate June 2025 as Nuclear Family Month, however, it wasn’t until April that the resolution made it to Lee’s desk. An amendment was filed to dedicate June 2026 as Nuclear Family Month to "commend the noble endeavors of those who seek to protect and strengthen the traditional values of our State and country."

A spokesperson for GLAAD told LGBT news outlet The Advocate, "Resolutions like this do more to reveal the cluelessness of elected officials whose own families and those of their constituents have various family dynamics and structures. The strongest families are grounded by love. Lawmakers trying to exclude and intentionally harm some families should be recognized as actively harming all by not focusing their time working for an inclusive Tennessee where all are welcome and can succeed."