On Friday, Utah grew to become the primary state within the nation to enact a legislation prohibiting the show of LGBTQ Pleasure flags and different unsanctioned flags on authorities property, together with public colleges.
The laws, HB77, or the “Flag Show Amendments,” was handed by the Utah Legislature earlier this month and have become legislation with out Governor Spencer Cox’s signature as a result of he declined to signal or veto it.
Efficient Might 7, 2025, the legislation restricts flag shows to a particular checklist, together with the U.S. flag, the Utah state flag, army flags, and some different authorized classes.
There can be a $500 every day superb for any flag violations.
The laws was launched by Consultant Trevor Lee and co-sponsored by Senator Dan McCay, each Republicans.
Initially, the invoice solely focused public colleges however was expanded to incorporate all authorities buildings and property.
HB77 handed the Utah Home in February with a vote of 49-20, as some Republicans joined Democrats in opposition. The Senate authorized it in March with a 21-8 vote, once more seeing bipartisan dissent from Senators Daniel Thatcher and Todd Weiler, who voted with Democrats.
“We need to make it possible for if there’s something that’s thought-about political and makes somebody really feel uncomfortable, that they shouldn’t have to fret in regards to the authorities pushing and imposing or pushing any sort of ideology on anybody,” Lee mentioned throughout a Senate Training Committee listening to in February.
