"The whole thing's dumb." With those blunt words, Utah Governor Spencer Cox unleashed his frustration over an escalating Pride flag controversy that has pitted the state legislature against Salt Lake City.
This year, the GOP-controlled legislature passed HB77, which only allowed flags from an approved list to be displayed in classrooms and at government buildings – effectively banning Pride flags. Last month, Salt Lake City exploited a loophole by adding the city's sego lily symbol to the Pride flag, transgender flag and a flag celebrating Juneteenth.
During his semiregular televised press conference, Cox made it known that he's done with the controversy.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox says the controversy over Pride flags in Salt Lake City is "dumb."
"The whole thing's dumb," Cox said.
"It's ridiculous," he added. "I'm sure they feel great that they (Salt Lake City) got around this dumb law, and they did it with dumb flags."
Rep. Trevor Lee, the chief sponsor of the Pride flag ban legislation, recently lashed out at the NHL’s Utah Mammoth for posting a Pride-themed version of its logo on social media. Lee has suggested he may run legislation to restrict companies or organizations that receive taxpayer money from displaying Pride symbols, which experts say would likely violate the First Amendment.
