Latest news with #SegoLily
The Independent
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Salt Lake City issues new Pride flag to get around Utah ban
The Salt Lake City Council has adopted three new Pride flags to circumvent Utah 's ban on flying such flags at public schools, universities and government buildings. Council members approved the measure via ordinance during a formal meeting on Tuesday. The three new city flags include: The Sego Celebration Flag, representing Juneteenth, the Sego Belonging Flag, representing LGBT+ residents and the Sego Visibility Flag, representing transgender rights. The sego lily, the city's most recognized emblem, is in the upper corner of the designs. The flags were chosen because versions of them had already been displayed at City Hall. They'll fly alongside the Utah and American flags. 'Our City flags are powerful symbols representing Salt Lake City's values,' said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, a Democrat. 'I want all Salt Lakers to look up at these flags and be reminded that we value diversity, equity and inclusion—leaving no doubt that we are united as a city and people, moving forward together.' Earlier this year, Utah state lawmakers passed House Bill 77, legislation that narrowed the types of flags that can be displayed on government property, leading the council members to adopt the proposal. 'Like other civic symbols, these flags reflect our shared humanity and the values that help everyone feel they belong—no matter their background, orientation or beliefs,' said Salt Lake City Council Chair Chris Wharton. 'While the state has restricted which flags public buildings can fly, I'm glad we can still uphold our community's values within the law.' In a statement on House Bill 77's passage, the American Civil Liberties Union said in opposition: 'This isn't about flags but about othering and erasing LGBTQ+ people from public life... Today, it's Pride flags. Tomorrow, it very well could be broader restrictions on speech, education, or expression for even more Utahns.' The state law was expected to go into effect Wednesday. If violated, officials can impose a $500 fine per day on state or local government buildings that fly unauthorized banners. Authorized flags include the state flag and military flag. There is a short list of exceptions.
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.
