Knee-jerk vexillological legislation against disapproved of flags is not just a Utah thing, but an Idaho one as well. Capital cities in both states are getting around bans on “pride flags” by designating said flags as official city government flags, or otherwise incorporating it into their flags.
“The Democratic controlled cities of Salt Lake City and Boise adopted new city flags this week showing support for LGBTQ+ people in defiance of their states’ Republican-controlled Legislatures, which have banned traditional rainbow pride flags at schools and government buildings.
“Utah’s capital of Salt Lake City created new flag designs while Boise, the capital of Idaho, made the traditional pride flag one of its official city flags. The move in Utah came hours before a ban on unsanctioned flag displays took effect Wednesday.”
Meanwhile… in Salt Lake City…
But this isn’t just restricted to LGBTQ&c. flags:
“But the law contains an exception that allows government entities to fly the flags of other countries during ‘special occasions.’ Seeking to again fly the flag year-round, the Bonners Ferry City Council passed a resolution Tuesday designating every day of the year a ‘special occasion’ to commemorate friendship with Canada.”
The problem with targetting specific ideologies or movements is that content neutrality required by the Constitution, combined with legislation that doesn’t bother with defining the broader applicable principles that legislators want imposed on themselves.
