Utah lawmakers are pushing forward a bill that would ban Pride flags from schools and government buildings while allowing the temporary display of Nazi and Confederate flags for educational purposes.
On Thursday, HB77, sponsored by Republican state Rep. Trevor Lee, was advanced by the House Education Committee, despite concerns over its constitutionality and impact on LGBTQ+ students, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.
This is not the first time Utah legislators have attempted to ban Pride flags in schools.
In 2023, a similar effort failed when a bill listing approved flags was rejected by the Senate. However, conservative lawmakers have continued to push for legislation that limits expressions of LGBTQ+ identity in public institutions.
The latest version of HB77 initially targeted schools but was expanded to include all government buildings, sparking concerns about free speech violations.
The House Education Committee voted 11-2 to advance the bill, with the only two Democratic representatives opposing it.
The bill now moves to the full Utah House for debate. If passed, it will then be considered by the state Senate, where previous efforts to ban Pride flags have faced resistance.
Originally published by Latin Times.
