In March, Utah’s state government passed a law banning the display of certain flags in schools and other “government property.”
While the bill itself does not name specific types of flags that would be banned, one of its sponsors, Republican State Rep. Trevor Lee, posted on social media that the bill would “ban Pride flags” from Utah schools.
According to the law, the only flags acceptable to fly are approved state and city flags and the American flag.
Now that the law is in effect, state or local government buildings will be fined $500 a day for flying any flag other than those approved by lawmakers, according to the Associated Press.
Leaders and LGBTQ+ communities alike have come together to creatively protest the new law, including Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, who introduced three new “official” city flags. They incorporate the existing Salt Lake City flag design into new iterations that celebrate LGBTQ+ pride, trans pride, and Juneteenth.
The City Council unanimously adopted Mendenhall’s proposal in early May.
“Our City flags are powerful symbols representing Salt Lake City’s values,” Mendenhall said in a statement. “I want all Salt Lakers to be able to look up at these flags and be reminded that we value inclusion and acceptance — leaving no doubt that we are united as a city and people, moving forward together.”
Progressive community members have applauded Mendenhall’s move toward inclusion, and have their own plans to protest the statewide flag ban, too.
Gabi Finlayson and Jackie Morgan of Elevate Utah, a political action committee, are on a mission to “dismantle single-party rule” in Utah by helping Democrats, independents, and “anyone ready to govern with sanity, integrity, and public trust” get elected.
Much of their work is ultimately centered around sharing compelling narratives and campaigns on social media. And for Pride Month, they’ve made some new merch to get their message across.
“Remember how Salt Lake City was super iconic and they passed three new official city flags, like the Pride flag, the trans flag, and the Juneteenth flag?” Finlayson said in a recent TikTok video. “Me, too.”
To match that level of “iconic,” the duo debuted their Pride collection in the video, which was created in collaboration with Alliance for a Better Utah.
The collection includes the all-new Salt Lake City flags, which feature text that reads: “Good luck banning f(l)ags.”
“All of the proceeds from those flags go to local nonprofits that are supporting the queer community right here in Utah,” Finlayson added.
With dozens of designs, the group’s website (ThisIsNotAPrideFlag.com) also features the Pride flag with a “Legislative Advisory: Offensive Content” sticker slapped over it, as well as a rainbow-fied Delicate Arch illustration that simply reads “Utah Proud.”
Other designs include highly Utah-specific references, including a rainbow gradient that reads “Not Today, Trevor Lee;” an image of a waterfall accompanied by “I came out at The Mayan;” and a photo of Church of Latter-Day Saints religious leader Brigham Young, surrounded by his three wives that says, “What if the wives were bi?”
“These may only be funny if you’re from Utah or have lived here too long,” Finlayson laughed.
Ultimately, the designs are a commentary on a culture that has long suppressed LGBTQ+ freedom and expression.
“These flags have historically been symbols of visibility, belonging, and celebration,” the online shop reads. “The Utah Legislature turned them into contraband. Mayor Mendenhall and the Salt Lake City Council turned them into a protest. We’re turning them into a movement and a fundraiser for our community.”
While it’s unclear what organizations will be the beneficiaries of this fundraiser, Finlayson emphasized that the messages of these items will make a real impact.
“Get your Pride merch, get ready for Pride,” she said, “and let’s remind the Utah legislature that we have never needed their permission, and we never will.”
Header image by Chris Robert on Unsplash
