Tennessee’s New Charlie Kirk Act Could Get Students Expelled For Protesting Anti-LGBTQIA+ Speakers
Tennessee lawmakers have passed the Charlie Kirk Act, legislation that bars public colleges from rescinding speaker invitations over opposition to LGBTQIA+ rights or abortion, while opening students who walk out or chant in protest to suspension or expulsion. Senate Bill 1741 and House Bill 1476 cleared the Tennessee General Assembly on Monday and now sit on Governor Bill Lee’s desk awaiting signature.
What the law actually does
The bill forces every public college and university in the state to adopt the University of Chicago’s free expression policy. Administrators are blocked from disinviting a guest speaker on the basis of views “opposing abortion, homosexuality, or transgender behaviour”. Students who stage a walkout, hold signs, or chant over a speaker can be placed on probation, suspended, or expelled. Student organisations can also legally refuse membership or leadership to anyone whose “lifestyle” they disagree with.
The act is named for Charlie Kirk, the late conservative commentator with a long record of anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric. Republican sponsor Rep. Gino Bulso of Franklin told the chamber the tribute is about conduct, not politics.
“It’s named after him, not because he had a conservative viewpoint, but because he actually gave his life in the defence of freedom of expression and doing so in a civil manner,” Bulso said.
Bulso also pitched Tennessee as the benchmark. “We want to be the gold standard for having public colleges and universities that are known to be neutral when it comes to divisive political and social issues.”
The free speech contradiction critics flagged
Democrats in the chamber pointed out the catch. The same state that wants to shield speakers who target queer students is reportedly the same state where academics faced discipline for declining to grieve Kirk after his death publicly.
Rep. Justin Jones put it on the record: “It’s ironic that this body is talking about free speech when we had professors in Tennessee schools expelled and suspended when they did not mourn the death of Charlie Kirk.”
If Governor Lee signs, the policy requirements take effect immediately and the remaining provisions follow on 1 July 2026. At DNA, we’ll be watching how Tennessee’s queer students, faculty and allies respond, especially on campuses where protest has been the only tool available when someone invited to the lectern has built a career arguing that LGBTQIA+ people should not exist in public life.
This is a bill that protects the microphone and punishes the audience. Whether it survives a legal challenge is the next question.
