SALT LAKE CITY — Utah grew to become the primary state to ban flying LGBTQ+ satisfaction flags at colleges and all authorities buildings after the Republican governor introduced he was permitting a ban on unsanctioned flag shows to change into legislation with out his signature.
Gov. Spencer Cox, who made the announcement late Thursday night time, stated he continues to have critical considerations with the coverage however selected to not reject it as a result of his veto would seemingly be overridden by the Republican-controlled Legislature.
Beginning Might 7, state or native authorities buildings will probably be fined $500 a day for flying any flag aside from the USA flag, the Utah state flag, army flags or a brief record of others accredited by lawmakers. Political flags supporting a sure candidate or occasion, resembling President Donald Trump’s signature “Make America Nice Once more” flags, are usually not allowed.
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The brand new legislation may stoke battle between the state and its largest metropolis. Metropolis buildings in liberal Salt Lake Metropolis usually honor Pleasure Month every June by displaying flags that remember its massive LGBTQ+ inhabitants. Native leaders have illuminated the Salt Lake Metropolis and County Constructing in rainbow lights to protest the flag ban every night time because the Legislature despatched it to Cox’s desk.
Andrew Wittenberg, a spokesperson for Salt Lake Metropolis Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s workplace, stated their attorneys are evaluating the legislation and the capital metropolis doesn’t but have data on what it would do as soon as the legislation takes impact.
The invoice’s Republican sponsors, Rep. Trevor Lee and Sen. Dan McCay, stated it’s meant to encourage “political neutrality” from lecturers and different authorities staff. Opponents argued it goals to erase LGBTQ+ expression and take authority away from cities and cities that don’t align politically with the Republican Legislature.
In a letter to legislative leaders explaining his choice, Cox stated he agreed with the “underlying intent” of the invoice to make lecture rooms politically impartial however thought it went too far in regulating native governments. He additionally famous that by focusing narrowly on flags, the legislation doesn’t stop different political shows resembling posters or lighting.
“To our LGBTQ neighborhood, I do know that current laws has been troublesome,” Cox stated. “Politics is usually a little bit of a blood sport at instances and I do know we have had our disagreements. I need you to know that I like and recognize you and I’m grateful that you’re a part of our state. I do know these phrases might ring hole to a lot of you, however please know that I imply them sincerely.”
Cox’s choice got here hours after the Sundance Movie Competition introduced it was leaving its house of 4 many years in Park Metropolis, Utah, for Boulder, Colorado. The flag invoice created eleventh-hour tensions as some residents apprehensive it could push the nation’s premiere unbiased movie competition out of state. Competition leaders stated state politics finally didn’t affect their transfer from conservative Utah to liberal Colorado. They did, nevertheless. make “ethos and fairness values” considered one of their standards in a nationwide seek for a brand new house and referred to Boulder of their announcement as a “welcoming setting.”
Utah’s flag legislation goes additional than one signed final week in Idaho that solely applies to colleges. However Idaho Republicans are additionally advancing a separate invoice to ban authorities buildings from displaying sure flags.
Florida lawmakers have superior a proposal to ban satisfaction flags and others that symbolize political viewpoints in colleges and public buildings after comparable measures failed previously two legislative periods. Some federal companies, together with the Division of Veterans Affairs, even have restricted which flags can fly at their services.
