Boise Takes Down Pride Flags, Puts Up Even More Obnoxious Display |
Boise Takes Down Pride Flags, Puts Up Even More Obnoxious Display
Image not from story. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Family Equality)
Republican Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed a bill banning government entities from flying non-official flags March 31.
Boise City Hall quickly removed its rainbow “pride” flags — and then installed a gay-themed sign and flagpole wrappings.
The sign reads, “Creating a city for everyone,” according to a photo published on Boise State Public Radio. It features rainbow stripes, along with black and brown stripes (a nod to non-white and non-Asian gays), and three pastel stripes (the colors of the transgender flag). The flagpoles are wrapped in stripes of the same colors. (RELATED: LGBTQ Ideology Can’t Just Seem To Die In Corporate America No Matter How Hard People Try To Kill It)
“Well, the law pertained to flags and we are in full compliance with the law,” Mayor Lauren McLean said Tuesday, according to Boise State Public Radio. McLean appeared emotional when she initially removed the rainbow flag, according to a video of the moment.
“We have a rich history of an arts and culture scene here,” McLean reportedly said. “So because it’s allowed, we have installed art that demonstrates our values to being a safe and welcoming city for everyone.”
Thoughts on the poles at Boise City Hall? pic.twitter.com/ZIIG7MCwns — Senator Tammy Nichols 🇺🇲❤️💪 (@nichols_senator) April 9, 2026
Thoughts on the poles at Boise City Hall? pic.twitter.com/ZIIG7MCwns
— Senator Tammy Nichols 🇺🇲❤️💪 (@nichols_senator) April 9, 2026
Idaho House Bill 561 restricts which flags may be flown by government entities. Acceptable flags, according to the bill, are: The U.S. flag, the flag of any U.S. state and the official city or county flag, official military flags, flags of foreign countries to “commemorate special occasions or in recognition of historic international and cross-border relations, including the Basque autonomous community flag,” or the official flag of an Idaho college or university.
The bill specifies that “[f]lags, banners, or pennants displayed on government-owned flagpoles or streetlights or on any government property along streets or boulevards that are not political, religious, or ideological in nature” are permissible. Political, religious, or ideological displays are not permissible. (RELATED: Philz Coffee Getting Rid Of Rainbow Flags And Baristas Are Losing It)
Boise City Hall’s flagpole wrappings seem to be in clear violation of this provision.
Government entities that fail to comply may be subject to a civil penalty of $2,000 “per flag for each day such a flag is displayed,” according to the text of the bill.
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