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Utah's flag ban circumvented: Three new flags get Salt Lake City's approval

Salt Lake City introduces three novel city flags as a workaround to a recently implemented state law prohibiting the public display of LGBTQ Pride and other identity flags at state-run buildings.

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Utah's flag ban circumvented: Three new flags get Salt Lake City's approval

In a defiant move, Salt Lake City decided to carve out a path around a controversial Utah law that effectively barred flying LGBTQ Pride and other flags at public buildings, by adopting three new city flags on Tuesday night. The freewheeling Democrat Mayor Erin Mendenhall put forth this proposal to the City Council, who readily agreed.

These new flags, creatively called the Sego Belonging Flag, Sego Visibility Flag, and Sego Celebration Flag, represent the city's commitment to Juneteenth, LGBTQ rights, trans rights, and Black residents, respectively. The Sego Belonging Flag champions the city's LGBTQ community, while the Sego Visibility Flag acknowledges its trans community. The Sego Celebration Flag honors the city's Black residents and Juneteenth history.

Mayor Mendenhall expressed her sentiments, stating, "Our City flags are powerful symbols representing Salt Lake City's values. 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." Salt Lake City Council Chair Chris Wharton echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the flags’ representation of shared humanity and values.

In March, Utah had become the first state to ban such flags from being flown at all public schools, universities, and government buildings, leading to a furor among Democratic officials and civil rights groups in the state. This law, prohibiting unsanctioned flag displays, was interpreted as a ban on symbols celebrating various communities in Salt Lake City. Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, expressed concerns about the law but allowed it to take effect without his signature. However, in a March letter, Cox addressed the LGBTQ community, stating, "I love and appreciate you and I am grateful that you are part of our state." He acknowledged the bill's shortcomings, pointing out that it focuses solely on flags while ignoring other forms of political expression.

The state law, set to take effect Wednesday, imposes a daily fine of $500 on state or local government buildings that fly any flag not on an approved list, which includes the U.S. flag, the Utah state flag, military flags, and a handful of other flags. Political flags, such as LGBTQ Pride flags, were explicitly prohibited.

In this battle of wills, Salt Lake City has skillfully maneuvered around the restrictions, keeping its promise to represent its people and values while managing to fly its colors high.

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  1. In response to the Utah law that prohibited political flags such as LGBTQ Pride flags from being displayed at public buildings, Salt Lake City agreed to add new city flags – the Sego Belonging Flag, Sego Visibility Flag, and Sego Celebration Flag – to its displays, thereby reiterating its commitment to inclusion and acceptance.
  2. The Sego Belonging Flag champions the city's LGBTQ community, while the Sego Visibility Flag acknowledges its trans community, and the Sego Celebration Flag honors the city's Black residents and Juneteenth history.
  3. By creatively adopting these new flags, Salt Lake City council showed its support for the state's general-news issues, defying Utah's controversial law and maintaining its promise to represent its people and values.
City of Salt Lake adopts three fresh flags in response to a state law prohibiting the display of LGBTQ Pride and other identity flags at public buildings, aiming to bypass this restriction.
City of Salt Lake City adopts three fresh flags in response to a new state law prohibiting the display of LGBTQ Pride and other identity flags at public buildings, allowing them to fly them unobstructed.
City of Salt Lake unveils three novel flags in reaction to state law restricting display of LGBTQ Pride and other identity flags on public structures.

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