The school board of Johnston County, North Carolina, voted 4-2 to ban district schools from displaying rainbow Pride flags on Tuesday. The ban is just the latest in a long line of conservative efforts to ban the LGBTQ+ flag from schools and government property.According to The Raleigh News & Observer, the newly approved policy states: Principals and teachers shall limit displays in the classrooms, school buildings, ball fields, school grounds, and buses, such as signs and flags, to materials that represent the United States, the state of North Carolina, Johnston County, the school name, mascot, post-secondary institutions, school-sponsored events, sponsorships, military flags, family photos, student art and/or the approved curriculum. Related Montana GOP angered after city outsmarts their new statewide Pride flag ban The city of Missoula followed the law so it could legally fly Pride flags on government property and the Republicans still arent happy about it. One board member who voted against the measure, Kay Carroll, said, Its important that they know when they see somebody wear a human rights pin or a rainbow pin, the message is that this is a safe place for people in the LGBTQ+ community. Its comforting to see these symbols of acceptance and tolerance. When they see these symbols which are signals they know they are safe to be their authentic selves. Were just treating human beings decently. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The school board claimed that it will continue to support all students and school employees. However, the board is currently considering removing sexual orientation and gender identity from its anti-bullying and anti-discrimination policies. The board will re-vote on the removal soon after failing to advance the measure in a 3-3 tie vote last Tuesday.Numerous school districts nationwide have banned the display of Pride flags, with conservative school board members claiming that the flags are a divisive form of indoctrination. However, recent polling by the Trevor Project suggests that LGBTQ+ students may benefit from visible displays of support, considering that 39% of LGBTQ+ young people and 46% of trans and nonbinary young people reported attempting suicide in the past year, and 49% of respondents between ages 13 to 17 said they experienced bullying in the past year. Young people who were bullied were also significantly more likely to have attempted suicide in the past year.Earlier this year, both Utah and Idaho became the first U.S. states to pass laws restricting the flying of Pride flags in schools and on government property. The move led the capital city governments ofSalt Lake City, Utah,andBoise, Idaho,to designate the Pride flags as official city flags, so they can still fly them under the bans.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.