Utah has become the first state to prohibit LGBTQ+ Pride flags from schools and government buildings.
The use of non -sanctioned flags is no longer permitted under the new law, which will take effect on 7 May.
Every state or the local government building that is found in violation of the prohibition will be fined every day that the unauthorized flag remains.
Only the flag of the United States, the flag of the state of Utah and other military and official flags selected by legislators are permitted by law.
The news came hours after the prestigious Sundance Film Festival announced that it left its house in conservative Utah for a new location in Liberal Colorado in the last 40 years.
Proponents of the LGBTQ+ flag ban say it will help Add political neutrality in public institutions.
But the measure has made some Maga fans furious, because it means that banners with political slogans such as President Trump's 'Make America Great Again' will also be forbidden.
LGBTQ+ activists have also expressed concern that the ban on their freedom of expression will erase and cities and cities sanction that are not politically in accordance with the Republican legislative power.
Utah has become the first state to prohibit LGBTQ+ Pride flags from schools and government buildings
But the measure has made some Maga fans furious, because it means that banners with political slogans such as President Trump's 'Make America Great Again' will also be forbidden
The law was passed without the signature of the Republican Governor Spencer Cox, who said he has reserved the policy.
He said he refused to express the measure because he believed it would have been destroyed.
In a letter to legislative leaders who explained his decision, Cox said that he agreed with the 'underlying intention' of the bill to make classrooms politically neutral, but thought it went too far when regulating local authorities.
He also noted that the law by focusing on flags, no other political displays such as posters or lighting occurs.
“For our LGBTQ community I know that recent legislation has been difficult,” said Cox. 'Politics can sometimes be a bit of a blood sport and I know we have had our disagreements.
'I want you to know that I love you and appreciate and I am grateful that you are part of our state. I know that these words can sound for many of your cave, but please know that I mean them sincerely. '
The new law could burn a conflict between the state and the largest city.
City buildings in Liberal Salt Lake City usually honor the Pride Month every year by showing flags that celebrate the large LGBTQ+ Population.
The law was passed without the signature of the Republican Governor Spencer Cox, who said he has reserved the policy
The new law could heat the conflict between the state and the liberal Salt Lake City, which usually honors the Pride Month every year by showing flags that celebrate the large LGBTQ+ population
Local leaders have illuminated the Salt Lake City building and the province in rainbow lights to protest every night against the flag ban since the legislative power sent it to Cox's Bureau.
Andrew Wittenberg, a spokesperson for the mayor of Salt Lake City in Mendenhall, said that their lawyers evaluate the law and the capital has no information about what it will do as soon as the law comes into effect.
The Republican sponsors of the bill, rep. Trevor Lee and Senator Dan McCay, said it is intended to encourage 'political neutrality' of teachers and other government employees.
However, a Maas in legislation makes the temporary representation of historical flags, such as confederated and Nazi -Sigils, possible for educational purposes
“There are cases where you have a curriculum in classrooms that is needed to use flags such as the Second World War, Civil War,” Lee told the Huiscommissie.
'Maybe you have a Nazi flag. You may have a southern flag, so you can display those flags … as part of the curriculum, and that's okay. '
Despite his explicit statement in the committee, Lee later declined in an interview with the Salt Lake Tribune, in an attempt to deny that his legislative proposal stated that Nazi flags are being shown.
“There is a difference between displaying flags in the curriculum if you teach about it,” he maintained. “You don't censor history here.”
The decision came hours after the Sundance Film Festival announced that it left his house of four decades in Park City in Conservative Utah for Liberal Boulder, Colorado
The law came hours after the Sundance Film Festival announced that it left his house of four decades in Park City for Boulder, Colorado.
The Bill flag created eleventh -hour tensions, because some residents were worried that it would push the most important independent film festival of the nation from the state.
Festival leaders said that state politics ultimately did not affect their relocation from conservative Utah to Liberal Colorado.
However, they did make 'Ethos and Study values' one of their criteria in a national search for a new house and referred to Boulder in their announcement as a 'hospitable environment'.
