Tennessee declares June as 'Nuclear Family Month', a move widely seen as sidelining Pride Month celebrations

LGBTQ+ groups have reacted with anger after the US state of Tennessee officially declared June as 'Nuclear Family Month', a move widely seen as sidelining Pride Month celebrations.

Republican governor Bill Lee signed the non‑binding resolution on 9 April, just days after it passed through the state’s Republican‑controlled legislature. June has long been recognised in the United States as Pride Month, marking the history and rights of LGBTQ+ people .

The resolution defines a nuclear family as “one husband, one wife, and any biological, adopted, or fostered children” and describes this structure as “God’s design for familial structure” and “God’s perfect design for humanity”. Critics argue the language deliberately excludes same‑sex couples, single‑parent households and other modern family arrangements .

LGBTQ+ advocacy organisation GLAAD condemned the move, accusing lawmakers of using symbolic legislation to marginalise parts of the community.

“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,” a GLAAD spokesperson said. “The strongest families are grounded by love,” the organisation added .

The move follows a failed attempt earlier this year by Republican lawmakers to ban Pride flags and LGBTQ+ symbols from government buildings, a proposal that stalled in the state senate .