Official LGBT Pride Flags Raising Tensions In Idaho And Utah

Rainbow flag waving against clear blue sky

Boise and Salt Lake City have set the stage for a heated debate by designating LGBT pride flags as official city banners, potentially defying state laws in the process.

Quick Takes

Boise and Salt Lake City work around state laws to fly LGBTQ+ pride flags on government property.
Idaho and Utah laws restrict nonofficial flags on government buildings, sparking controversy.
Boise City Council’s resolution passed amidst support and opposition from various groups.
Potential financial penalties loom due to noncompliance with state flag regulations.

City Resolutions vs. State Laws

Boise and Salt Lake City councils have declared various pride flags as official city symbols. This move adheres to local ordinances while sidestepping laws across Idaho and Utah that restrict which flags may fly on government property. Boise city leaders cited feedback overwhelmingly favorable to this initiative following legislative resistance against nondesignated flags.

Boise’s City Council resolution is supported by a resolution presiding over hundreds of energetic supporters who gathered prior to the vote. The vote followed a passed law in Idaho banning any nonofficial flags from display on government sites. Public sentiment remains divided, with council member Meredith Stead cautioning against removing the pride flag as it might communicate the wrong message.

Opposition and Legal Implications

Melodie Ostman, a Boise citizen, opposes flying the pride flag, asserting it creates division and doesn’t reflect the majority. The Idaho Attorney General has also warned that noncompliance with existing flag laws might result in Boise losing state funding. Idaho allows only nationally recognized flags on government properties, and this decision could pose compliance issues for Boise.

“It’s about government spaces trying to remain neutral and supporting and being a voice for everyone, not just a select few,” said Ostman.

In Salt Lake City, the council approved the inclusion of the pride, transgender, and Juneteenth flags, by adding a local symbol, the sego lily. This adjustment aligns city banners with state law, which only allows certain types of flags. Critics claim that enforcing such icons without official status would undermine neutrality in governmental spaces, a position previously supported by Utah Republican leaders.

Mayors’ Defiance and Broader Implications

Mayor Erin Mendenhall of Salt Lake City expressed that marking these banners with city symbols signifies embracing city values and honors a diverse population. Meanwhile, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean expressed her support for these changes as reflective of citizens’ values and as a response against resisting inclusionary practices. Together, they champion these initiatives without prior coordination.

“These city flags represent the ideas and principles Salt Lakers know as core tenets—belonging and acceptance, or better stated: diversity, equity, inclusion,” said Mayor Mendenhall.

While the cities continue to push boundaries in the pursuit of inclusivity, questions over regulatory consequences and compliance continue. The balance at stake is between upholding diversity and respecting established state laws. Observers anticipate whether these resolutions will stand as symbolic milestones or precedents for more contentious future civic decisions.