Tennessee Designates June as Nuclear Family Month

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a resolution on April 9, 2025, designating June as Nuclear Family Month, a move that replaces the state's longstanding observance of LGBTQ Pride Month. The measure, House Joint Resolution 182, passed the Republican-controlled state legislature earlier that month, with the House approving it 72-18 and the Senate 26-4.

The resolution defines the nuclear family as consisting of one husband, one wife, and any biological, adopted, or fostered children. It describes this structure as the foundational element of Tennessee's society and the nation, crediting it with fostering prosperity and stability. Lawmakers emphasized that the nuclear family faces challenges and requires protection to support the state's values. The document cites statistics linking fatherless households to higher risks of poverty, substance abuse, mental health issues, high school dropouts, youth incarceration, and suicides, noting that 60 percent of youth suicides occur in such homes. It also references a 2016 study by researcher Peter Langman, which found that 82 percent of school shooters examined came from unstable family environments or homes without both biological parents.