‘Stop Talking’: Christian Activist Calling Pride Flag ‘Indoctrination’ Rebuked by Lawmaker
A Christian activist known for his anti-LGBTQ views was rebuked by a Florida Democratic state senator during his public remarks supporting legislation endorsed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis that would ban Pride flags being displayed at government buildings.
The bill claims they represent a “political viewpoint.” The GOP-sponsored bill, SB 1120, says 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.
The governmental entity must remain neutral when representing political viewpoints in displaying or erecting a flag.” Equality Florida says the “bill was clearly designed to slander an entire community with baseless & malicious lies.” John Labriola of the Christian Family Coalition Florida, which calls itself a “human rights and social justice advocacy organization,” had strong words opposing LGBTQ pride flags and in support of the controversial bill that would ban them from public buildings. READ MORE: ‘Open Rebellion’: Mike Johnson, Mitch McConnell and Ronna McDaniel Under MAGA Fire Labriola told lawmakers on the Florida State Senate Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability Tuesday evening the bill would prevent “would-be activist teachers from pushing indoctrination.” (Full video here.) He claimed the legislation was needed because “just a couple of years ago, a father of a 12-year old in Palm Beach County…sued the school district because the teacher was putting up rainbow flags and pushing that indoctrination in the classroom.” He then denounced “the idea that the flag, the rainbow flag is inclusive,” because “there is no color there for ‘heterosexual.'” Labriola told lawmakers the pride flag is “deeply offensive” to people of faith, and “gaslighting.” “We don’t want government pushing an ideology,” he added, before claiming there are “victims” of the LGBT movement.
