A number of red states are skipping over Pride Month in favor of a so-called ‘Fidelity Month’ promoting “traditional values”, drawing outrage from rights groups.

The governors of Utah and Arkansas have both declared June as Fidelty Month, championing “god, family and country” while other states including Tennessee, Alabama and Indiana have adopted a similar approach albeit under different names.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox’s formal declaration read: “A recent opinion poll of Americans showed that support for traditional values has significantly declined.

“A majority of Americans no longer esteem values like faith, family, patriotism or community involvement.

“Fidelity means dedication to faith, family and country... The survival of the United States depends on the shared bonds of faith, family and patriotism.”

Cox had previously stressed the role of Pride Month in encouraging “vital conversations” to “understand our differences and support our LGBTQ+ friends and family members”. He signed Pride Month declarations during his first three years but appears to have changed his tone since 2024.

His shift has drawn criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates, including local nonprofit group Project Rainbow Utah.

“It’s disappointing that a governor who makes ‘disagree better’ his calling card is so openly dismissive of perspectives other than his own,” they said in a statement shared on social media.

“Pride month is an important celebration that uplifts marginalized folks and gives them resources to survive and spaces where they can thrive. Recasting June as Fidelity Month, instead of Pride month, is a slap in the face for LGBTQ+ Utahns.

“It would have been easy to start a campaign or recognize another month to pursue these goals, instead of taking Pride Month away from our community and replacing it with an insult that implies LGBTQ+ people don’t have families of their own, faith that they nourish, or a sense of patriotism that inspires them to make their community and country better.”

The term ‘Fidelity Month’ was coined in 2023 by professor Robert P. George, director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University.

George was inspired by a poll showing declining rates of commitment to patriotism, religion, having children and community involvement among Americans, a spokesperson told EWTN News.

Arkansas Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders also announced her recognition of a ‘Fidelity Month’ this week, stating that “cultivating fidelity to God, family, community and country contributes to human flourishing and supports a healthy, stable, well-ordered society”.

She argued that practices that “encourage virtue, commitment, responsibility and shared moral foundations strengthen both individuals and their communities”.

Tennessee separately designated June as ‘Nuclear Family Month’ through a house joint resolution, stating: “The nuclear family, consisting of one husband, one wife, and any biological, adopted, or fostered children, is God’s design for familial structure and has been the bedrock of society since the creation of the world.”

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun also declared June ‘Nuclear Family Month’, writing on social media: “As a father of four and grandfather of seven, I have seen firsthand the impact that loving, committed families can have across multiple generations.

“As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, this proclamation recognizes the important role families play in shaping the future of our state and our country.”

And Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed a proclamation Friday officially declaring June as ‘Strong Families Month’.

“Strong families build a strong Alabama,” Ivey said. “Homes led by stable parents, a father and a mother, provide children with the structure and discipline necessary to succeed. In Alabama, we celebrate these hardworking parents that strive for an even better future for their children.”

The declarations came as a new poll showed support for same-sex marriage and relationships in the U.S. has plateaued after more than two decades of consistent growth. The Gallup poll found a notable decline among Republicans.