Tennessee to Celebrate “Nuclear Family Month” Instead of “Pride Month”!
May 7, 2026 by FACT
Tennessee is the first state in the nation to take an official stand against “Pride Month.”
On April 16, Gov. Bill Lee signed a resolution passed by the TN House and Senate that declares June will be celebrated as “Nuclear Family Month” in the state of Tennessee, which the resolution defined as a family “consisting of one husband, one wife, and any biological, adopted, or fostered children.” The resolution further declared that the nuclear family is “God's design for familial structure and has been the bedrock of society since the creation of the world.” Amen!
The measure overwhelmingly passed the House by a vote of 72-18, and the Senate by 26-4 in the 2026 Legislative Session. Tennessee is a state that recognizes God’s design for the family is the only design worth celebrating. We will make no apologies for standing firm behind the values that not only built our great state and nation, but are the bedrock of our civilization. The resolution states clearly that the nuclear family “was the basic building block of Tennessee's society throughout her formative years [and] built the United States of America and created prosperity within our nation.”
The resolution further explained the impact of fatherlessness on modern society:
As these numbers illustrate, deviating from God’s perfect design for the family leads to devastating consequences. We advocate for traditional families not only because it is a foundational biblical principle, but because studies have shown time and time again that households with both a mother and father produce the most successful children and happiest individuals.
“Seldom in the social sciences has there been such a strong and consistent pattern of findings than the one that marriage, as our keystone institution, is strongly linked to the welfare of children, adults, and the country itself,” Brad Wilcox, Distinguished University Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia, wrote. “More than 50 years of social science and medical research generally demonstrate that married men and women live longer, have healthier lives, earn and save more money, recover more quickly and successfully from illness, steer clear of trouble with the law, are less likely to attempt and commit suicide, and are more likely to be happy. Indeed, on most measures of financial, physical, social, and emotional well-being, men, women, and children in stable married homes do better.”
In a recent ranking known as the “Family Structure Index,” Tennessee ranked 24th out of all 50 states for our pro-family culture. The index evaluates three key factors: marriage rates among “prime age” adults aged 25 to 54, fertility patterns, and the share of children being raised by married parents. Together, these indicators provide a reliable picture of family stability, its connection to long-term well-being, and the attainability of the American Dream.
The study found that 55.6% of prime-age adults are married in Tennessee, and only 59.4% of children are raised by their married parents, compared to 46.7% in 2025. Although this represents a gain of 12.7 percentage points, it’s clear our state has a long way to go in ensuring all Tennessee children enjoy the benefits of a nuclear family. This measure is one initiative of many that we believe will be impactful in shaping the worldview of Tennessee residents and promoting nuclear families throughout the state!
“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 resolution reads.
We couldn’t agree more.
Liberty Counsel’s Founder and Chairman Mat Staver shared: “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.”
We’re proud to live in a state that unashamedly stands for biblical values and the traditional family. We hope to lead by example in encouraging other states to take a similar stand against “Pride Month” and establish a celebration of traditional values instead!
On April 16, Gov. Bill Lee signed a resolution passed by the TN House and Senate that declares June will be celebrated as “Nuclear Family Month” in the state of Tennessee, which the resolution defined as a family “consisting of one husband, one wife, and any biological, adopted, or fostered children.” The resolution further declared that the nuclear family is “God's design for familial structure and has been the bedrock of society since the creation of the world.” Amen!
The measure overwhelmingly passed the House by a vote of 72-18, and the Senate by 26-4 in the 2026 Legislative Session. Tennessee is a state that recognizes God’s design for the family is the only design worth celebrating. We will make no apologies for standing firm behind the values that not only built our great state and nation, but are the bedrock of our civilization. The resolution states clearly that the nuclear family “was the basic building block of Tennessee's society throughout her formative years [and] built the United States of America and created prosperity within our nation.”
The resolution further explained the impact of fatherlessness on modern society:
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.
As these numbers illustrate, deviating from God’s perfect design for the family leads to devastating consequences. We advocate for traditional families not only because it is a foundational biblical principle, but because studies have shown time and time again that households with both a mother and father produce the most successful children and happiest individuals.
“Seldom in the social sciences has there been such a strong and consistent pattern of findings than the one that marriage, as our keystone institution, is strongly linked to the welfare of children, adults, and the country itself,” Brad Wilcox, Distinguished University Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia, wrote. “More than 50 years of social science and medical research generally demonstrate that married men and women live longer, have healthier lives, earn and save more money, recover more quickly and successfully from illness, steer clear of trouble with the law, are less likely to attempt and commit suicide, and are more likely to be happy. Indeed, on most measures of financial, physical, social, and emotional well-being, men, women, and children in stable married homes do better.”
In a recent ranking known as the “Family Structure Index,” Tennessee ranked 24th out of all 50 states for our pro-family culture. The index evaluates three key factors: marriage rates among “prime age” adults aged 25 to 54, fertility patterns, and the share of children being raised by married parents. Together, these indicators provide a reliable picture of family stability, its connection to long-term well-being, and the attainability of the American Dream.
The study found that 55.6% of prime-age adults are married in Tennessee, and only 59.4% of children are raised by their married parents, compared to 46.7% in 2025. Although this represents a gain of 12.7 percentage points, it’s clear our state has a long way to go in ensuring all Tennessee children enjoy the benefits of a nuclear family. This measure is one initiative of many that we believe will be impactful in shaping the worldview of Tennessee residents and promoting nuclear families throughout the state!
“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 resolution reads.
We couldn’t agree more.
Liberty Counsel’s Founder and Chairman Mat Staver shared: “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.”
We’re proud to live in a state that unashamedly stands for biblical values and the traditional family. We hope to lead by example in encouraging other states to take a similar stand against “Pride Month” and establish a celebration of traditional values instead!
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16
