Oklahoma lawmaker whose bill bans Pride flags also penned ban on race topics in classrooms

Alexia Aston, The Oklahoman
·2 min read
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Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, authored a bill that could ban some forms of birth control in Oklahoma. West, however, said he intends to change that part of the bill to target over-the-counter contraception.

This week, a bill that would ban state agencies from displaying pride flags or using funds to observe Pride Month has drawn support from conservative voters and criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates.

The bill is authored by Rep. Kevin West, R-Oklahoma City, the same lawmaker who also authored the controversial House Bill 1775, the so-called critical race theory ban, that bans the teaching of certain racial and gender topics in Oklahoma classrooms.

Here's everything we know about West's bill history and recent projects.

Who is Kevin West?

West was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2016 to House District 54 in Oklahoma City.

He graduated from Douglass High School and studied construction at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M before opening a cabinet shop in Oklahoma City.

In his biography on the House website, West said he's committed to making the state a safe place to raise children, run businesses and forge a future.

What is the 'Patriotism Not Pride Act'?

The "Patriotism Not Pride Act", or HB 3217, would ban state agencies from displaying pride flags or using funds to observe Pride Month.

The bill seeks to prohibit state agencies from displaying flags that represent sexual orientation or gender identity on state property, and would ban state agencies from using any funds ― federal or private — to develop, administer, engage in, promote or endorse any activity that aims to promote or recognize Pride Month or any event with a similar theme.

When the bill was heard by the State Powers Committee Wednesday, West said he'd seen banners on state agency websites promoting Pride Month, which is why he felt the bill was necessary.

What is House Bill 1775?

In 2021, West authored HB 1775, which bans eight race and gender concepts from public school classrooms and prohibits mandatory diversity training at universities.

The bill faces a lawsuit filed by a group of students, teachers, activists and college professors, with attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union.

The challengers said the law violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution by stifling speech and discriminating against minority and LGBTQ+ students.

Will the 'Pride Not Patriotism Act' face a lawsuit?

After HB 3217 passed the State Powers Committee, Cindy Nguyen, policy director of ACLU of Oklahoma, said West should be familiar with the lengths the ACLU of Oklahoma is willing to go to protect against viewpoint-based censorship, referencing the lawsuit against HB 1775.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma lawmaker who penned HB 1775 now targeting LGBTQ+ flags