SLC Council Unanimously Approves Pride and Juneteenth-Themed City Flags Before State Ban Takes Effect
UPDATE: 5/6/25 at 5:16 PM
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) The Salt Lake City Council approved the inclusion of three new municipal flags featuring designs related to LGBTQ+ pride and Juneteenth celebrations.
The council convened late Tuesday evening and approved the motion without dissent to designate three additional flags as official banners for Salt Lake City. This step was taken to align the city’s regulations with the newly enacted legislation. H.B. 77 flag bill , while also showing support for diversity, Mayor Mendenhall put said.
Our city flags serve as potent emblems of Salt Lake City’s principles," Mendenhall stated. "My aim is for every Salt Laker to gaze upon these banners and understand that we cherish diversity, equity, and inclusiveness—clearly demonstrating our unity as a community progressing collectively.
Following the enactment, a statement released during the press conference assigned names to every flag, listed below:
- The Sego Celebration Flag, representing the history of Juneteenth and the City’s Black and African American residents;
- The Sego Belonging Flag, symbolizing the City’s LGBTQIA inhabitants and greater inclusivity towards this group;
- The Sego Visibility Flag symbolizes the city’s transgender community and underscores a dedication to acknowledging and honoring their existence.
The passage comes a day before H.B. 77, which is set to take effect tomorrow, along with several bills from the 2025 General Session. Rep. Trevor Lee (R-Layton), the bill’s sponsor, took to X , formerly known as Twitter, and said, “Does Salt Lake City really want to play these games? Good luck!”
The bill’s Senate sponsor, Sen. Dan McCay (R-Riverton), also posted regarding the city action, posting pictures that he said would help other groups feel “seen.” Posting an edited picture of the Salt Lake City flag with a logo from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Israel, and a Trump flag.
It is currently unclear if Salt Lake City will face any litigation due to the passage of these new flags. According to H.B. 77, the State Auditor’s Office is tasked with the enforcement of the flag ban, which only allows the display of certain flags on government property.
These include:
- U.S. flag
- Utah state flag
- Banners from various nations, regions, or municipalities
- Banners for schools and higher education institutions
- Military flags
- Flags of Native American tribes
- National League of Families POW/MIA banner
- Olympic flags
- Public school flags
Should public bodies contravene this rule, the Auditor is responsible for imposing a fine of $500 on the entity each day, continuing until the flag is taken down.
ABC4.com has contacted the State Auditor’s Office seeking their input but hasn’t received a response as of yet.
ORIGINAL STORY:
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The day before Utah implemented its new policy, prohibition of specific flags in educational institutions And at government facilities, such as those displaying Pride flags, Salt Lake City’s Council introduced three new possible municipal flag designs. These representations aim to honor both the LGBTQIA+ community and the Juneteenth holiday.
The flags apparently do not go against Utah’s regulations. new law prohibiting political flags because they’re set to be adopted as official city flags.
Mayor Erin Mendenhall of Salt Lake City introduced the ordinance along with the designs to the council during a presentation. work session On Tuesday, the new flags will showcase the city’s iconic Sego Lily alongside adaptations of the Juneteenth flag, the Progress Pride flag, and the transgender visibility flag.
She said when the law passed, the council looked at it closely to understand how they could abide by it, while still representing Salt Lakers and their values.
“As mayor, I have a duty to lawfully uphold the values of our nation, state, and our city. I know that the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion are not only right and just, but they are fundamental to America, even through all its struggles to uphold them,” she said. “I am not interested in any debate about the rightness of these values; they are American, they are ours, and they are right. How they are implemented is the only matter in question.”
Mendenhall said that these flags have been flown over Washington Square throughout the years she’s served as mayor, adding it’s a sight she’s proud of.
“They represent our American values, sewn in color and cloth. In lieu of this defining legislation, I have determined that when it comes to representing our city’s values, I know we can do more than fly a single flag. Three more, to be precise,” she said.
The council is scheduled to vote on them during their next meeting. formal council meeting .
H.B. 77 "Amendments to Flag Displays" The Utah Legislature approved the measure in March, effectively instituting a prohibition against displaying Pride, Juneteenth, and other politically themed flags in educational institutions and governmental premises. The legislation is scheduled to go into effect on May 7th.
The legislation does not prohibit the Pride flag explicitly; instead, it specifies which flags are permitted for display, including:
- U.S. flag
- Utah state flag
- Banners from various nations, regions, or municipalities
- Banners for schools and higher education institutions
- Military flags
- Flags of Native American tribes
- National League of Families POW/MIA banner
- Olympic flags
- Public school flags
Past iterations of flags, such as those used in the U.S. and Utah, would similarly be permitted. Additionally, displaying flags as part of teaching materials or for instructional reasons would also be acceptable.
This isn’t the initial reaction from Salt Lake City regarding the Pride flag ban. Following the passage of the legislation by the state legislature, the city illuminated one of its buildings with rainbow hues the very next day.
The legislator behind the flag bill, Representative Trevor Lee from (R – Layton), has issued warnings to those attempting to undermine the legislation. In early April, he posted on X A reaction to a video claimed to show a Utah educator displaying Pride symbols.
"While my bill only addresses the flags, HB281 will encompass all these additional symbols or any attempts to deliberately circumvent the law. Classrooms and public institutions should remain politically impartial," he stated.
After the announcement, ABC4.com reached out to Lee for his comment, and he responded with, "It won’t turn out well for them; good effort though."
Mendenhall informed ABC4 that these flags are intended to unite rather than separate.
"These flags symbolize inclusiveness, acceptance, and unity. That is precisely their purpose. These are the principles of this city, and I believe these are also the values of our country," she stated.
Project Rainbow Utah, which works to promote LGBTQ+ visibility and distribute Pride flags around the state, sent a statement to ABC4. The organization said it has heard from the community on how much a show of support, like a flag, can mean.
“Being an ally requires actions as well as words, so we salute Salt Lake City for showing up for LGBTQ+ Utahns,” said Jacey Thornton, Project Rainbow Utah Executive Director.
Project Rainbow Utah mentioned that they've received worries from people in Utah regarding flying Pride flags at their residences and workplaces. They wish to clarify that H.B. 77 pertains solely to governmental grounds and educational institutions.
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