Despite state bans on Pride flags, the skies above Salt Lake City and Boise will still shine with rainbow hues this Pride Month. Both capital cities have found creative legal ways to keep flying the flag for inclusion. By adopting the Pride flag, or variations of it, as official city flags, Salt Lake City in Utah and Boise in Idaho have maneuvered around statewide bans that would otherwise prohibit such displays on government buildings.
In Salt Lake City, Mayor Erin Mendenhall introduced three new official flags to join the city’s existing Sego Lily Flag. According to the mayor’s office, the new flags include the Sego Celebration Flag, representing Black residents and Juneteenth; the Sego Belonging Flag, for the LGBTQ community; and the Sego Visibility Flag, honoring the city’s transgender residents.
Mendenhall said, “I want all Salt Lakers to be able to look up at these flags and be reminded that we value inclusion and acceptance, leaving no doubt that we are united as a city and people, moving forward together.” Utah’s House Bill 77, passed earlier this year, aimed to restrict which flags could be flown on government property.
But by naming these new banners as official city flags, Salt Lake City found a legal workaround. The City Council quickly passed the proposal. Meanwhile, in Boise, the City Council took a bolder route. According to the Idaho Statesman, Boise simply declared the Pride flag its official city flag. So far, Republican leaders in both states have remained silent on how — or if — they plan to respond. But for now, the message from these two cities is clear: Pride will fly in June 2025.
