Utah has become the first State in the US to ban flying LGBTQIA+ Pride flags in schools and all government buildings after the Republican governor announced that he allowed a ban on non -geshanctioned flag displays to become a law without his signature.
Goveor Spencer Cox said that he chose not to reject the policy, despite his serious worries, because his veto would probably be lifted by the legislative power controlled by the Republicans.
Under the new flag ban that starts on 7 May, every state or local government buildings in Utah get a different flag that a flag of the United States, the flag of Utah, military flags or a short list of other flags approved by politicians, a fine of US500 ($ 795) to fly.
Political flags that support a certain candidate or party, such as the characteristic ‘Make America Great Again’ flags by President Donald Trump, are also not allowed.
The new law could burn a conflict between the state and the largest city.
City buildings in Salt Lake City usually honor the Pride Month every year by showing flags that celebrate the large LGBTQIA+ population.
Local leaders have illuminated the Salt Lake City building and the province in rainbow lights to protest every night against the flag ban since the legislative power was sent to the governor.
Andrew Wittenberg, a spokesperson for the mayor of Salt Lake City in Mendenhall, said that their lawyers evaluate the law and the capital has no information about what it will do as soon as the law comes into effect.
People march after a pride rally in the Utah State Capitol in 2023. ((AP: Rick Bowmer))
The Republican sponsors of the bill, representative Trevor Lee and Senator Dan McCay, said it was intended to encourage “political neutrality” of teachers and other government employees.
Opponents claimed that the LGBTQIA+ expression wants to erase and remove authority from cities and villages that are not politically in accordance with the Republican legislative power.
The Governor of Utah says politically a ‘blood sport’
In a letter to legislative leaders who explained his decision, Mr. Cox said that he agreed with the “underlying intention” of the bill to make classrooms politically neutral, but thought it went too far when regulating local authorities.
He also noted that the law by focusing on flags, no other political displays such as posters or lighting occurs.
“For our LGBTQ community I know that recent legislation has been difficult,” said Mr. Cox.
“Politics can sometimes be a bit of a blood sport and I know we have had our disagreements.
“I want you to know that I love you and appreciate and I am grateful that you are part of our state.”
He added that he meant these words “sincere”, although they can “call”.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) says that it currently keeps track of 10 anti-LGBTQIA+ accounts in Utah outside the Flag Act.
Their website states that although not all accounts will become law, they “all damage LGBTQIA+ people”.
Of the ten accounts, four have been adopted to the Senate and the house.
Bill comes hours after the Sundance Film Festival movement
Mr. Cox’s decision came hours after the Sundance Film Festival announced that it left his house of four decades in Park City for Boulder, Colorado.
The Bill flag created eleventh -hour tensions, because some residents were worried that it would push the most important independent film festival of the nation from the state.
Festival leaders said that state politics ultimately did not affect their relocation from conservative Utah to Liberal Colorado.
However, they did make ‘Ethos and Study values’ one of their criteria in a national search for a new house and referred to Boulder in their announcement as a ‘hospitable environment’.
The Utah’s flag account goes beyond one that was signed in Idaho last week that only applies to schools.
But Idaho Republicans also promote a separate bill to forbid government buildings to show certain flags.
Politicians from Florida have introduced a proposal to prohibit Pride flags and others that represent political positions in schools and public buildings after comparable measures failed in the past two legislative sessions.
Some federal agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, also have limited limits which flags can fly to their facilities.
Other flags allowed according to the law of Utah are Olympic and Paralympic flags, official flags of university or university flags, tribal flags and historical versions of other approved flags that can be used for educational purposes.
AP
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