Utah's legislature has passed a bill that would prohibit the display of pride flags on public school and government property, a move that now hinges on the decision of Governor Spencer Cox. The approved measure, as reported by FOX 13, has sparked considerable backlash from LGBTQ advocacy groups and civil liberties organizations.
Equality Utah has openly criticized the bill, stating that it amounts to a curb on free expression at the local level, "In this political tug-of-war, LGBTQ Utahns have unfairly become collateral damage," according to their press statement. The organization, along with the Utah Pride Center, has vowed to contest the ban if it becomes law. Notably, the Pride Center has planned a protest at the Capitol, including the display of a 200-foot pride flag, as covered by The Salt Lake Tribune.
There is a particular concern that this legislation could negatively impact the annual Pride Month events that are traditionally held on Salt Lake City government property. While lawmakers like Sen. Lincoln Fillmore have indicated that individuals could still carry pride flags, official display by institutions would be forbidden. "My read on it would be they could hold the festival and anybody could bring any flag they want, but they would not display the flag," Fillmore told reporters, as The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
The ACLU of Utah has stepped into the fray, sending a letter to Governor Spencer Cox urging a veto. The letter reads, “It’s clear the bills being sent to your desk are part of a larger agenda,” as The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Meanwhile, the Utah Pride Festival organizers remain defiant, with plans to go ahead with their annual gathering. "We will march. We will celebrate. We will take up a tremendous amount of space, as we always have. Now is the time to come together," as obtained by ABC4.
