After Governor Bill Lee signed a resolution last week that named June as Nuclear Family Month in the Volunteer State, a spokesman for the LGBTQ advocacy organization, GLAAD, on Wednesday told news outlets that Tennessee lawmakers were working to “exclude and intentionally harm” non-traditional households.
Tennessee’s resolution defined the nuclear family as “one man, one husband, one wife, and any biological, adopted, or fostered children.”
In a statement that first appeared in the LGBTQ publication, The Advocate, and later internationally in the United Kingdom’s Attitude, a GLAAD spokesman said resolutions like the one signed by Lee “do more to reveal the cluelessness of elected officials,” whose constituents may have “various family dynamics and structures.”
The spokesman stated, “Lawmakers trying to exclude and intentionally harm some families should be recognized as actively harming all by not focusing their time working for an inclusive Tennessee where all are welcome and can succeed.”
Originally introduced by State Representative Bud Hulsey (R-Kingsport) in February 2025, the resolution was only passed by the State House in March, when 72 lawmakers voted in favor. An additional 14 voted against it. One legislator was present but did not vote.
In addition to defining the nuclear family, the resolution credited the household structure with building the United States of America and ushering in the prosperity it has enjoyed. It also included information about the benefits to children born to nuclear family units:
WHEREAS, fatherless families are four times more likely to live in poverty than married-couple families; children without fathers are ten times more likely to abuse chemical substances; children from fatherless homes are more likely to have mental health and behavioral issues; sixty percent of youth suicides are from fatherless homes; seventy-one percent of high school dropouts are from fatherless homes; fatherless youths are twenty times more likely to be incarcerated; eighty-five percent of youths in prison come from fatherless homes; and in a 2016 study by Peter Langman on the psychology behind fifty-six school shooters, eighty-two percent of the shooters were raised in an unstable family environment or without both biological parents together.”
Lee signed the resolution amid a similar effort in Congress by U.S. Representative Mary Miller (R-IL-15), who filed a resolution last year that would establish June as Family Month.
It also comes after President Donald Trump broke with recent tradition last year, when the White House did not designate June as Pride Month for LGBTQ people, a gesture first made by former President Bill Clinton in 1999.
At the time, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked whether the president would consider dedicating the month to American families instead.
.@AlecLace: “Congresswoman Mary Miller suggested that changing Pride month to family month. I would personally like to see a nuclear family month. Some people are saying let’s get a veterans month. Does the president have any plans on making a proclamation or is it just going to… pic.twitter.com/O5zhLZAPAd
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) June 3, 2025
“There are no plans for a proclamation for the month of June,” said Leavitt. “I can tell you this President is very proud to be a President for all Americans, regardless of race, religion, or creed.”
Tennessee’s resolution also comes years after Black Lives Matter led an international effort to “disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family,” and “dismantle cisgender privilege,” which gained traction following the death of George Floyd in 2020.
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
I would give up Nuclear Family Month in exchange for ending Pride Month and Black History Month.
Once again Liberals prove every day that they only believe in a two tier system. Of course they can do whatever come to mind. The rest of us cannot. They prove every day that they do not believe in freedom.