Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a resolution in early April designating June as “Nuclear Family Month” instead of (or in retaliation to) LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Tennessee House Joint Resolution No.182 passed with overwhelming approval. The House of Representatives voted 72-18, and the State Senate 26-4.
According to Tennessee legislators: “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 initially intended for June 2025, but was not passed by the Senate until this year. The resolution will take effect in June 2026 and is an attempt by the state to promote heterosexual families. It explains, “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,” and that, “the nuclear family built the United States of America and created prosperity within our nation.”
Tennessee legislators pointed out the importance of “Nuclear Family Month” with phrases such as “the epidemic of fatherlessness in America” and the effects of a “disrupted nuclear family.” The resolution claimed that fatherless families are four times more likely to experience poverty. Children raised without fathers are 10 times more likely to be victims of drugs, alcohol abuse and are more likely to experience mental health and behavioral challenges.
Liberty Counsel’s founder and chairman, Matt Staver said, “We commend Tennessee legislators for embracing the nuclear family as society’s foundational building block. The traditional core family unit is essential for a healthy society to function and flourish.”
There is no concrete evidence that states same-sex families and their children experience challenges any differently from their hetero counterparts. A study by Rachel H. Farr from 2017 states, “Over 30 years of research regarding children of LG [Lesbian and Gay] parents support that these children develop on par with children of heterosexual Parents.”
Many elected Republicans, like those in Tennessee, have continued to attack and erase June Pride Month. In 2025, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-New Jersey 4th) proposed making June “Life Month.” The congressional recording stated, “‘Life Month’ [is made] to honor the dignity of every human life and to thank those who protect the most vulnerable [children].” This month was an attempt to celebrate the third anniversary of the Dobbs case.
In the same year, the Trump administration forced the Department of Education to recognize June 2025 as “Title IX Month,” highlighting the need to protect women based on sex in education activities, sports and sex-segregated private spaces.
Joint No.182 states, “Tennessee’s values do not align with the humanistic, globalist ideologies of the World Health Organization, the United Nations… we join with the citizens of Tennessee in designating the month of June 2025 as ‘Nuclear Family Month’ and commend the noble endeavors of those who seek to protect and strengthen the traditional values of our state and country.”
Qnotes routinely covers significant LGBTQ+ developments from our direct neighbor states and others in the southeast region. Actions by nearby lawmakers often influence politicians and private citizens in our immediate area. Our goal is always to keep our readership well informed.