Nicole Lockhart-Rios

I am testifying in opposition to HB1345, many non-official flags can help students feel safe in their schools. Students wearing a pride flag are also communicating that they are a safe person to go to and be around in your are queer. It can be very scary not knowing who supports your identity, but being able to see that you're not alone, especially in high school, can make a world of a difference. There is no benefit to passing this bill, all it does is silence marginalized identities and make teaching more complicated and stressful over silly rules.