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Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Salt Lake City could adopt Pride, Juneteenth themed city flags ahead of state flag ban
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A day before Utah's new ban on certain flags at schools and government buildings, including pride flags, Salt Lake City's Council presented three new potential city flags, representing LGBTQIA+ communities and the Juneteenth holiday. The flags, presumably, don't violate Utah's new law prohibiting political flags because they're set to be adopted as official city flags. Bill banning pride flags from schools passes Utah Legislature Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall presented the ordinance and designs to the council in a work session on Tuesday. The new flags feature the city's traditional Sego Lily on variations of the Juneteenth flag, the Progress Pride flag, and the transgender pride flag. She said when the law passed, the council looked at it closely to understand how they could abide by it, while still representing Salt Lakers and their values. 'As mayor, I have a duty to lawfully uphold the values of our nation, state, and our city. I know that the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion are not only right and just, but they are fundamental to America, even through all its struggles to uphold them,' she said. 'I am not interested in any debate about the rightness of these values; they are American, they are ours, and they are right. How they are implemented is the only matter in question.' Mendenhall said that these flags have been flown over Washington Square throughout the years she's served as mayor, adding it's a sight she's proud of. 'They represent our American values, sewn in color and cloth. In lieu of this defining legislation, I have determined that when it comes to representing our city's values, I know we can do more than fly a single flag. Three more, to be precise,' she said. The council is set to vote on them at their formal council meeting. H.B. 77 'Flag Display Amendments' passed the Utah Legislature in March, in effect, creating a ban on pride, Juneteenth, and other political flags in schools and government properties. It is set to take effect on May 7. The law doesn't ban the pride flag specifically, rather, it lists approved flags that can be flown, including: U.S. flag Utah state flag Flags of other countries, states, or cities Flags for colleges and universities Military flags Flags of Native American tribes National League of Families POW/MIA flag Olympic flags Public school flags Historic versions of flags, like the U.S. and Utah, would also be allowed, and flags displayed as part of the curriculum or for educational purposes are also allowed. It's not the first response Salt Lake City has had to the pride flag ban. The day after the legislature passed the law, the city lit up its building in rainbow colors. The flag bill's sponsor, Rep. Trevor Lee, (R – Layton), has threatened anyone who tries to subvert the law. In early April, he posted on X a response to a video purported to be a Utah teacher sharing pride symbols. 'While my bill just covers the flags. HB281 will cover all these other symbols or anything purposely trying to subvert the law. Classrooms and taxpayer entities should always be politically neutral,' he wrote. called Lee for a statement following the announcement, to which he said, 'It's not going to go well for them, nice try.' Sen. Dan McCay (R-Riverton) also responded to the announcement on X with an edited photo flag representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, writing, 'Excited that @slcmayor and @slcCouncil will also be flying this new SLC flag so that all historic constituents will be 'seen.' Sen. Dan McCay's post on X. Mendenhall told ABC4 that these flags are meant to include and not divide, and that retribution is always possible. 'These flags are about inclusion, acceptance, and unity. That is what they are about. Those are the values of this city, and I believe they are the values of this nation,' she said. Latest headlines: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Controversial flag bill banning certain flags in classrooms passes House
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A bill that would allow a select few flags to be displayed inside of public classrooms has passed the Utah House. H.B. 77 — or Flag Display Amendments — would limit what flags could be displayed on government property by government employees or entities. Violation of this law could result in a $500 fine 'per violation per day' until the flag is removed. The bill has been subject to scrutiny as it has moved through the Utah House. If enacted, the bill would prevent political flags from being shown, pride flags, and any flag that is not listed within the exceptions in the bill. Those exceptions include: The official flag of the United States An official Utah state flag The current and official flag of another country, state, or political subdivision of another country or state A flag that represents a city, municipality, county, or political subdivision of the state, A flag that represents a branch, unit, or division of the United States military The National League of Families POW/MIA flag A flag that represents an Indian tribe defined by federal law An officially licensed flag of a college or university A historic version of a flag temporarily displayed for educational purposes An official public school flag An official flag of the United States Olympic Committee, United States or Paralympic Committee, International Olympic Committee, or International Paralympic Committee; An official flag of an Olympiad or Paralympian that occurred or will occur within the state A flag of an organization authorized to use a public school facility at the location and during the time in which the organization is authorized to use the public school facility. These would be the only flags allowed to be displayed on government property. All others would be prohibited. Initially being circled for further debate in a morning session of the legislature, after passing an amendment to the bill, it later passed in a 49-20-6 vote in the afternoon voting session on Friday. Rep. Trevor Lee (R-Davis), the bill's sponsor, told lawmakers during debate that his bill was about maintaining political neutrality in schools and government properties. 'What we are trying to do here is make sure is that we have neutrality as it pertains to politics,' Lee told law makers on Friday. 'As many flags have become symbols of ideologies or political agendas from the left and the right. We would like to keep that stuff out of the classroom.' The debate on the floor was limited, however when the bill was in committee, concerns were raised about the bills impacts the free speech of government workers. Ellie Menlove, policy councilor of ACLU Utah, told the House Education Committee that this bill targets the rights of LGBTQ people, and a pride flag wasn't a political symbol. 'The legislature should not stop teachers and cities from displaying flags that signal acceptance and support to their students and community members,' Menlove began. 'Respectfully, the bill sponsor is mistaken; pride flags are not political symbols.' After the bill was passed, Utah House Democrats released a statement condemning the bill, saying, 'This harmful bill, which received bipartisan opposition, seeks to censor Pride and Transgender flag displays in public schools and government buildings. H.B. 77 is yet another example of unnecessary legislation aimed at silencing expressions of support and pride for our LGBTQ+ communities.' The bill still has some ways to go before it can become law in the state. Having passed the House, it will go to a vote through the Senate after it goes through Senate standing committee. It will then need to be signed by the Governor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
