By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-03-29 15:01:19 | Updated at 2025-04-01 01:15:13
2 days ago
Utah has become the first state to ban LGBTQ+ pride flags from schools and government buildings.
The use of unsanctioned flags will no longer be permitted under the new law, which takes effect on May 7.
Any state or local government building found in violation of the ban will be fined $500 every day that the unauthorized flag remains up.
Only the United States flag, Utah state flag and other military and official flags singled out by lawmakers will be permitted under the law.
The news came hours after the prestigious Sundance Film Festival announced it was leaving its home for the past 40 years in conservative Utah for a new location in liberal Colorado.
Proponents of the LGBTQ+ flag ban say it will help instill political neutrality in public institutions.
But the measure has infuriated some MAGA fans as it means that banners featuring political slogan's such as President Trump's 'Make America Great Again' will also be prohibited.
LGBTQ+ activists have also expressed concerns ban will erase their freedom of expression and sanction cities and towns that don't align politically with the Republican legislature.
Utah has become the first state to ban LGBTQ+ pride flags from schools and government buildings
But the measure has infuriated some MAGA fans as it means that banners featuring political slogan's such as President Trump's 'Make America Great Again' will also be prohibited
The law passed without the signature of Republican Governor Spencer Cox, who said he has reservations about the policy.
He said he declined to veto the measure as he believed it would have been overturned.
In a letter to legislative leaders explaining his decision, Cox said he agreed with the 'underlying intent' of the bill to make classrooms politically neutral but thought it went too far in regulating local governments.
He also noted that by focusing narrowly on flags, the law does not prevent other political displays such as posters or lighting.
'To our LGBTQ community, I know that recent legislation has been difficult,' Cox said. 'Politics can be a bit of a blood sport at times and I know we've had our disagreements.
'I want you to know that I love and appreciate you and I am grateful that you are part of our state. I know these words may ring hollow to many of you, but please know that I mean them sincerely.'
The new law could stoke conflict between the state and its largest city.
City buildings in liberal Salt Lake City typically honor Pride Month each June by displaying flags that celebrate its large LGBTQ+ population.
The law passed without the signature of Republican Governor Spencer Cox, who said he has reservations about the policy
The new law could stoke conflict between the state and liberal Salt Lake City which typically honors Pride Month each June by displaying flags that celebrate its large LGBTQ+ population
Local leaders have illuminated the Salt Lake City and County Building in rainbow lights to protest the flag ban each night since the Legislature sent it to Cox's desk.
Andrew Wittenberg, a spokesperson for Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall's office, said their attorneys are evaluating the law and the capital city does not yet have information on what it will do once the law takes effect.
The bill's Republican sponsors, Rep. Trevor Lee and Sen. Dan McCay, said it's meant to encourage 'political neutrality' from teachers and other government employees.
However, a loophole in the legislation permits the temporary display of historic flags, such as Confederate and Nazi sigils, for educational purposes
'There are instances where, in classrooms, you have curriculum that is needed to use flags such as World War II, Civil War,' Lee told the House committee.
'You may have a Nazi flag. You may have a Confederate flag, and so you are allowed to display those flags… as part of the curriculum, and that is okay.'
Despite his explicit statement in committee, Lee later backpedaled in an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune, attempting to deny that his bill would allow for Nazi flags to be displayed.
'There is a difference between displaying flags in curriculum when you're teaching on them,' he insisted. 'You don't censor history here.'
The decision came hours after the Sundance Film Festival announced it was leaving its home of four decades in Park City in conservative Utah for liberal Boulder, Colorado
The law came hours after the Sundance Film Festival announced it was leaving its home of four decades in Park City for Boulder, Colorado.
The flag bill created eleventh-hour tensions as some residents worried it would push the nation's premier independent film festival out of state.
Festival leaders said state politics ultimately did not influence their move from conservative Utah to liberal Colorado.
They did, however, make 'ethos and equity values' one of their criteria in a nationwide search for a new home and referred to Boulder in their announcement as a 'welcoming environment.'
