Blue cities adopt Pride flags as official symbols in bid to skirt red-state laws

Boise and Salt Lake City have both adopted the Pride flag – or a slight variation of it – as official symbols as of Tuesday night, effectively circumventing state law.

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall has insisted that her "sincere intent" in adopting her city's new flags "is not to provoke or cause division," according to the AP. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

"My sincere intent is not to provoke or cause division," Mendenhall said, according to The AP. 

"My intent is to represent our city's values and honor our dear diverse residents who make up this beautiful city and the legacy of pain and progress that they have endured," she continued.

Violators of the Utah law, which Republican Gov. Spencer Cox, allowed to pass without his signature, can be fined $500 per day. The law's supporters maintain that it's a matter of institutions maintaining political neutrality.

STATE DEPARTMENT BLOCKS PRIDE, BLM FLAGS FROM EMBASSIES, OUTPOSTS WITH 'ONE FLAG POLICY'

"This law is about keeping government spaces neutral and welcoming to all," Republican House Speaker Mike Schultz said. "Salt Lake City should focus on real issues, not political theatrics."

Meanwhile, in Boise, Idaho, Mayor Lauren McLean issued a proclamation last week retroactively designating the pride flag as an official city flag.

Boise Mayor Lauren McLean has said she believes the Idaho law restricting flag displays at government buildings is unenforceable. (AP Photo/Kyle Green, file)

McLean has maintained that the Idaho law is not sound – and has even flown the pride flag over City Hall after it was enacted.

McLean has yet to respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

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McLean and Mendenhall spoke Monday night to discuss their cities' respective plans, though Wittenberg stressed to Fox News Digital that there was "no prior or additional coordination" between the cities' officials.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kyle Schmidbauer is a production assistant for Fox News Digital. A graduate of Montclair State University in New Jersey, he joined Fox in 2022.

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