A bill to ban pride flags from classrooms, government buildings advances in the Utah Legislature
Feb 28, 2025, 2:00 PM
This photo shows the Utah State Capitol, March 14, 2013, in Salt Lake City. (Rick Bowmer/Associated Press)
(Rick Bowmer/Associated Press)
SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah Senate committee voted Friday to advance a bill seeking to prohibit teachers and other government employees from displaying pride flags in public schools and other government buildings.
HB 77, sponsored by Rep. Trevor Lee (R-Layton), “prohibits a government entity or employee of a government entity from displaying a flag in or on the grounds of government property except certain exempted flags,” the current bill text reads.
The only exempted flags, as currently listed in the bill text, are:
- The official United States flag.
- An official Utah state flag.
- “The current and official” flag of another country.
- Utah city, county or other municipal flags.
- U.S. Military flags.
- The National League of Families POW/MIA flag.
- Flags representing an Indian tribe “as defined in federal law.”
- Official university or college flags.
Historic versions of flags would also be allowed under certain circumstances, like when a teacher displays it for educational purposes.
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This means pride flags and any other flag not listed would not be allowed to be displayed by teachers in public schools or by government employees or entities in government buildings and government property.
“If there is something that’s considered political and makes someone feel uncomfortable, they shouldn’t have to worry about the government pushing any type of ideology,” Rep. Lee said in a Senate Education Committee hearing Friday.
The proposal drew a large crowd of public commenters in the hearing, including teachers and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“This tells those people that they are welcome, that they belong, that they are safe,” said commenter Charlotte Weber, with a pride flag in hand. “Trying to ban this flag specifically sends exactly the opposite message.”
The committee ultimately voted 4-1 to advance the bill to the Senate, with Sen. Kathleen Riebe (D) voting against it.
If the full Senate approves the bill before the end of the General Legislative Session next Friday, it will head the governor’s desk.
