In a powerful display of resistance, demonstrators in Salt Lake City, Utah unfurled a 200-foot rainbow banner in front of the state capitol on Friday to protest House Bill 77 (H.B. 77)—a Republican-led measure banning Pride and transgender flags from schools and other government properties.
In solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall illuminated the City/County Building in rainbow colors on Friday night, sending a strong message of support.
What the Bill Means
The controversial H.B. 77 has already passed the Republican-majority legislature with a 49-20 House vote and a 21-8 Senate vote. Gov. Spencer Cox (R) has indicated he won’t veto the measure, making it highly likely to become law.
The bill permits only certain flags to be flown on government property, including:
✔️ National, state, and school flags
✔️ Olympic flags
✔️ Flags recognising Native American tribes, prisoners of war, and missing military soldiers
✔️ Flags from organisations officially authorised to meet on school property during events
🚫 Pride flags and other “non-sanctioned” flags are strictly prohibited.
Government properties violating the law will have 30 days to remove banned flags before facing a $500 daily fine for continued non-compliance.
Opposition & Protests
Supporters of H.B. 77 claim the bill refocuses schools on education rather than identity politics.
Corinne Johnson, founder of Utah Parents United, told KSTU:
“We are setting our Utah schools back on a course to focus back on what matters most to parents and students, which is student success.”
However, opponents argue the law will erase visible support for LGBTQ+ students, many of whom already face bullying and discrimination.
Protester London Skies, a trans woman, explained why the visibility of Pride flags matters:
“I actually feel really safe when I go into a neighborhood and I see a trans flag because I know that I have an ally, somebody that is supportive. Especially as a trans woman, there’s so much violence against us.”
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall took a firm stance by lighting up the City/County Building in rainbow colors, reinforcing the city’s commitment to inclusivity.
Defiant Responses from Teachers
Teachers in Utah have also pushed back against the bill. J. Ryan Waddoups, a Utah educator, wrote a public letter to Republican lawmakers, stating:
“You will have to fire me before I take down my Pride flag. It serves as a symbol to our LGBTQ youth that they are loved, supported, and accepted unconditionally.”
“A Pride flag does not promote homosexuality any more than a U.S. flag promotes invading Greenland or taking over Canada. It simply lets them know that they need not be afraid when they’re in my room.”
His final words to lawmakers?
“It will be a cold day in hell before I see a Nazi or Confederate flag flown in or near my room.”
A Nationwide Trend
Utah’s ban on Pride flags follows a larger Republican-led effort across the United States to remove DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives and restrict LGBTQ+ visibility. Similar moves have been made by the U.S. Departments of Defense, State, and Veterans Affairs, under Donald Trump’s second administration, banning Pride flags from government buildings, embassies, and military installations.
As more states consider similar legislation, the debate over LGBTQ+ rights and visibility in public spaces is far from over.
