PBS News Hour

GEOFF BENNETT: This year marks a decade since# same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide.## But in several Republican-led states, efforts# are under way to ban Pride flags from public## schools and government buildings,# sparking a wave of local resistance.

Deema Zein has the story.

DEEMA ZEIN: In Salt Lake# City, a historic flag-raising.

ERIN MENDENHALL (D), Mayor of Salt# Lake City, Utah: You are welcome here,## because, in Salt Lake City, you belong.

DEEMA ZEIN: The city adopted a# new official flag called the Sego## Belonging Flag featuring LGBTQ colors# underneath the city's sego flower.

ERIN MENDENHALL: What we're doing today is# about the dignity and the worth of every## single person in this community, no matter# who they are, no matter who they love.

DEEMA ZEIN: The move coming just# hours before a new law took effect## in Utah banning public schools# and government buildings in the## state from displaying any flags# that aren't officially approved.

Utah was the first state in the nation# to ban Pride flags from public buildings,## but not the last.

Idaho and Montana have adopted# similar bans in recent weeks, and at least eight## other states with Republican-controlled# legislatures are considering the idea.

Orion Rummler covers LGBTQ issues# and politics for The 19th News.

ORION RUMMLER, The 19th News:## Republican lawmakers have framed these bans# as a necessary way to make.. and government buildings and schools, depending# on the language of the ban, neutral places.

DEEMA ZEIN: But some cities are# pushing back, like in Boise, Idaho,## where a Pride flag has flown for# several years outside City Hall.

WOMAN: We have a motion and a second.

DEEMA ZEIN: Last month, the City Council voted# 5-1 to designate it as an official city flag,## which they say will allow them to continue# to fly it and not violate the new law.

MEREDITH STEAD, Boise, Idaho, City# Council: The city removing the## flag now after yea.. DEEMA ZEIN: Boise Mayor Lauren McLean arguing: LAUREN MCLEAN, Mayor of Boise, Idaho: we know## That that's not just a flag.# We know it says who we are.

DEEMA ZEIN: Just two blocks away sits the# Idaho State Capitol, where the legislature## voted overwhelmingly to pass H.B.96, a bill# that bans -- quote -- "governmental entities"## from displaying any flags other than the U.S.# flag, state and local flags, the POW flag,## or those from military branches and Native tribes.# Schools may also display their own banners.

Idaho's Republican attorney general# warns Boise's mayor to take down the## flag or face penalties when the state# legislature comes back in session.

RAUL LABRADOR (R), Idaho Attorney General:# It's going to cost the community and the## city money for violating the law, and# she doesn't pay it out of her pocket.## It's going to cost the citizens of# Boise, and I think that's shameful.

DEEMA ZEIN: In neighboring Montana sits# the city of Missoula.

Earlier this month,## city leaders voted to adopt the Pride# flag as its only official city flag,## despite a new Montana state law that# prohibits flags on state property## that -- quote -- "represent a political viewpoint,# including but not limited to flags or banners## regarding a political party, race, sexual# orientation, gender or political ideology."

The Republican governor of Montana, Greg# Gianforte, called the move divisive,## posting that Missoula City Council should# be ashamed for imposing a Pride flag on## schools and dividing their community.

ORION RUMMLER: This is more than blue## dots rebuking the culture war policies of# their Republican-controlled legislatures.## Choosing to fly those flags as official# city flags sends a message that the city## wants to stand apart from the rest of# the state as a beacon of inclusivity.

DEEMA ZEIN: A challenge that# for now hangs in the air.

And now we are joined by Salt# Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall.

Thank you so much for joining us.

I want to jump in first and ask your# reaction when yo.. legislation bill banning all nonofficial# flags at schools and governmental buildings.

ERIN MENDENHALL: Well, it didn't make# a lot of sense as an urgent topic for## our legislature to address,# and yet they chose to do so.

And we worked really hard to figure# out how we could both abide by that## law and continue to represent# the values of Salt Lake City.

DEEMA ZEIN: You adopted three other flags,# amending them as official city flags,## allowing you to fly them.

Can you# dig in a little deeper here and talk## about what these flags symbolize# to you and to your community?

ERIN MENDENHALL: They symbolize the values that# have been here in Salt Lake City for generations,## diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

They# do not exclude.

These are flags of inclusion.## We have raised two of them in the month of June# with the Juneteenth flag raising and Pride.

And we have heard from hundreds, even# thousands of community members who've said,## I see myself being represented# in these flags.

I feel seen and## valued and wanted and understood.

And# that's what these flags are about.

DEEMA ZEIN: Utah Governor Spencer Cox didn't# sign the bill, but he also did not veto it,## which allowed the law to go into effect.## He was asked about Salt Lake City's Pride# flags, and here's what he had to say.

GOV.

SPENCER COX (R-UT): I'm sure they# feel great that they got around this## dumb law and they did it with dumb flags.# And it's just -- the whole thing's dumb.

QUESTION: What do you think should be done?

GOV.

SPENCER COX: Well, I already# said what I thought .. done.

We should raise the American# flag and let's unify around that.

DEEMA ZEIN: They are dumb flags and it was a# dumb bill.

What's your response to the governor?

ERIN MENDENHALL: It's fine if he wants to say# that about the decision that I made to bring## these flags forward for approval with our city# council.

That's my role as the mayor.

I take## that responsibility, but I don't think it's# the right way to address community members who## feel validated, seen, heard and wanted in their# community because they see these flags flying.

DEEMA ZEIN: Have you felt or have# you had a sense, a bigger sense of## the state seeking more control over# your city's ability to function?

ERIN MENDENHALL: I think that's a pretty# consistent dynamic, especially in a blue## dot capital city in a red state with a# supermajority Republican legislature.## That's not a new experience for us, but it's# something that we're constantly navigating.

My administration has a pretty good relationship# with state leaders.

We talk to each other even## when we disagree.

And I think we're going to be# able to keep talking through this.

I don't think## this is the end of what we will see from the# legislature regarding the flags, but neither## is it the end of our ability to represent our# values.

And we will keep finding ways to do so.

DEEMA ZEIN: Could the ban have# economic repercussions for your## city or state?

And are you worried# that your city will suffer from this?

ERIN MENDENHALL: You know, Salt Lake# City is an inclusive, loving, welcoming,## proud city.

We're proud of our diversity.

United# communities are not afraid of our diversity.

We## celebrate it.

We recognize our differences and we# recognize that those differences make us stronger.

I think asking for sameness across the board# is probably the biggest threat to our economic## potential as a state.

And Salt Lake City's# willingness to display our values in cloth## through the adoption of these official flags# has had waves of response from other cities## across the world that have reached out and# said, thank you for standing up like this.

DEEMA ZEIN: Do you think other cities around# the country should take your lead on this?

And,## if so, what advice do you have for them?

ERIN MENDENHALL: My advice to other# cities is to represent your communities## and stand by your values.

When we're in the# minority, sometimes, we have to compromise## on our vision to some extent, but we# should not compromise on our values.

Salt Lake City is proud to have been able to# find a way to keep our values at the forefront,## literally be able to hang them on a flagpole.# That might have to change in the future,## but we're up for that.

Let's keep representing# your community and your community's values,## and I think we will find our way through this.

DEEMA ZEIN: Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall,# thank you so much for joining us today.

ERIN MENDENHALL: Thank you for having me.