Florida Proposal To Ban Pride Flag But Allow Confederate Flag At State Buildings ‘Filed In Error,’ Lawmaker’s Office Claims

Topline

A Florida Republican lawmaker who filed legislation Tuesday exempting the Confederate flag from a broad ban on flying flags outside state government buildings—including pride flags—has reversed course, with a spokesman claiming Wednesday the filing was done “in error.”

Key Facts

State Sen. Jay Collins (R-Tampa) filed an amendment to a flag ban bill Tuesday that listed the Confederate flag among 12 types of flags that would still be allowed to fly outside state buildings—a list that also included the American flag, the state flag and flags for counties and municipalities.

A Florida Senate staff analysis of the bill released later in the day found the amendment might be unconstitutional, since restricting flags could be “determined to limit speech,” and the amendment was later withdrawn.

Collins’ spokesman Ted Veerman said in a statement Wednesday the amendment was pulled “to ensure the wording of our bill is in line with the state constitution.”

Crucial Quote

“Any insinuation that Jay is a confederate sympathizer is disgusting,” Veerman said.

Key Background

The legislation did not explicitly identify pride flags as the reason behind the proposed ban, but LGBTQ activists say it was the primary driver, following a series of controversial incidents last year involving pride flags. Surfside Mayor Shlomo Danzinger refused to raise rainbow flags for Pride Month in June , claiming groups like Satanists and Nazis might have then demanded their flags also be flown at government buildings. The Miami-Dade County school board in December also considered a new policy to ban the “display of flags that promote a political issue,” after a teacher in Sarasota County was told to take down his classroom’s rainbow-colored “COEXIST” flag over alleged political messaging. Civil rights groups like the Anti-Defamation League identify Confederate flags as hate symbols, which white supremacist groups often associate with. Culture war battles have been front-and-center issues at Florida’s Republican-led legislative session, where bills have also been filed to expand the state’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law and legalize the carrying of concealed firearms without a permit.

What To Watch For

The legislative session goes through May 5.

Further Reading

Florida GOP Proposal Would Ban Pride Flag—But Let Confederate Flag Fly At State Buildings (Forbes)

Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill Into Law Despite Controversy (Forbes)