Salt Lake City – The democratic cities of Salt Lake City and Boise adopted new flags of the city this week showing support for LGBTQ+ people challenged to the legislatures controlled by the Republicans of their states, who have Banning Banned Tradition Rainbow Pride Flags in schools and government buildings.
The capital of Salt Lake City of Utah created new flag designs, while Boise, the Idaho capital, made the traditional pride flag one of its official flags in the city. The movement in Utah occurred hours before a prohibition of unauthorized screens entered into force on Wednesday.
The mayors of the cities spoke on Tuesday morning to discuss their individual plans and offer each other, said Andrew Wittenberg, spokesman for the office of the mayor of Salt Lake City, Erin Mendenhall.
“My sincere intention is not to cause or cause division,” Mendenhall said. “My intention is to represent the values of our city and honor our dear diverse residents that make up this beautiful city and the legacy of pain and progress they have endured.”
The prohibition of the Idaho flag entered into force on April 3, prohibiting that government buildings show any flag, except those of a short list that includes the flag of the United States, the flags of military branches and the official flags of government entities. A separate prohibition that contains some exemptions for school buildings enters into force on July 1.
Supporters said the laws would encourage the political neutrality of teachers and other government employees. The opponents argued that they intended to erase the expression LGBTQ+ and the authority of outburst of the cities and towns that did not align politically with the republican legislatures.
More than a dozen other states are considering similar measures.
The pride flag has regularly flown over the Boise City Council for years, and Mayor Lauren McLean kept the flag raised even after the Idaho law entered into force. McLean said he believed that the law was inapplicable.
But Idaho Attorney, Raul Labrador, recently warned that he would ask the legislators to add an application mechanism in the 2026 legislative session.
According to Utah’s law, state or local government buildings can receive a fine of $ 500 per day for flying any flag that is not the flag of the United States, the state flag, a flag of the city or the county, military flags, Olympic and Paralympic flags, official university flags or tribal flags. Political flags are not allowed.
Last week, McLean responded to the Idaho Law issuing a proclamation by retroactively making the pride flag an official flag of the city, along with a flag that honors organ donors. It allowed both to be flown along with the traditional Blue Boise flag with the Capitol building and the “Tree City” of the slogan.
The City Council voted 5 to 1 for proclamation during a full meeting and sometimes noisy on Tuesday night.
“Eliminating the flag now after years of flying it with pride would not be a neutral act,” said Council member Meredith Stead. “A withdrawal of the values that we have maintained and would send a discouraging message to those who have found affirmation and belonging through their presence in the City Council would be indicated.”
Some attendees maintained pride flags while others stirred the flag of the United States. Sometimes, shouts broke out, which caused a brief break.
Utah in March became the first state to promulgate a prohibition of unauthorized flags in all government buildings. Republican governor Spencer Cox let the bill become law without his signature. He said he thought he was going too far in the regulation of local governments, but decided not to reject it because his veto would probably be annulled by the legislature.
Utah’s law does not explicitly mention the LGBTQ+pride flags, but the sponsor of the bill, Republican representative Trevor Lee, repeatedly declared that it was aimed at prohibiting them.
The council members in Salt Lake City unanimously approved new designs on Tuesday night, adding the city’s emblem, a Lily Sego, at the top of the traditional Rainbow LGBTQ+ Pride flag and the blue, pink and white transgender flag. They also adopted a red and blue flag for ThirteenthA federal holiday held on June 19 that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States
The president of the Chamber of Representatives of Utah, Mike Schultz, described him as a “loss of clear time and taxpayers’ resources.”
“This law is about maintaining neutral and cozy government spaces for all,” said Schultz. “Salt Lake City should focus on real problems, not political theater.”
Other Idaho communities are also dealing with the restriction.
The city buildings in Bonners Ferry, approximately 30 miles (50 kilometers) of the Canadian border, have long flown the Canada flag in a sign of cross -border friendship, eliminating it only in April after the Idaho governor approved the restriction of the flag.
But the law contains an exception that allows government entities to fly the flags of other countries during “special occasions.” Seeking to fly again the flag throughout the year, the City Council of Bonners Ferry approved a resolution on Tuesday that designates a “special occasion” every day of the year to commemorate friendship with Canada.
___ Boone informed of Boise, Idaho.
