Context:

Boise and Salt Lake City, both led by Democratic mayors, have made the Pride flag official symbols to sidestep state restrictions on flag displays in government buildings. Utah and Idaho have laws that limit which flags can be flown, intended to maintain political neutrality, but these cities aim to represent their diverse communities through these symbolic actions. Salt Lake City's Mayor, Erin Mendenhall, adopted modified versions of several pride flags, each including the city's sego lily, to reflect the city's values without intending to cause division. Boise's Mayor, Lauren McLean, declared the pride flag an official city flag and challenged the enforceability of Idaho's law, continuing to fly the flag over City Hall. Despite the lack of prior coordination, both mayors communicated to discuss their approaches, emphasizing representation of diversity over political theatrics.

Dive Deeper:

• Salt Lake City and Boise are making strategic moves to circumvent new state laws in Utah and Idaho that restrict flag displays on government properties, focusing particularly on the Pride flag.

• Utah's law, effective this week, permits only certain flags like the American and military flags to be displayed, while Salt Lake City has adopted new flags that include variations with the city's sego lily to honor its diverse residents.

• Mayor Erin Mendenhall of Salt Lake City clarified the adoption of these flags is to represent city values and commemorate the community's legacy rather than provoke political division, despite potential fines for non-compliance.

• In Boise, Mayor Lauren McLean issued a proclamation to retroactively designate the pride flag as an official city symbol, arguing the Idaho law is unenforceable, and even flew the flag over City Hall to assert her stance.

• Both cities' actions highlight a broader discussion on maintaining political neutrality in government spaces versus representing community diversity, with local leaders advocating for inclusivity while navigating state-imposed limitations.

• Republican supporters of the new laws argue for political neutrality, with Utah's House Speaker Mike Schultz urging Salt Lake City to focus on substantive issues rather than symbolic gestures.

• The mayors of Boise and Salt Lake City have exchanged views on their respective actions, asserting there was no prior coordination, further emphasizing their independent yet similar approaches to addressing state restrictions.