On March 28, bill H.B. 77 became law without the signature of Utah Governor Spencer Cox. The bill aims to restrict any government entity or employee of a government entity from displaying flags in or on the grounds of government property, with specific exceptions allowed.
In response to this new law, Salt Lake City mayor, Erin Mendenhall, proposed 3 new city flags. The Sego Celebration flag, that represents the cities black and African American communities, the Sego Belonging Flag, that represents the cities LGBTQIA communities, and the Sego Visibility Flag, that represents and celebrates the cities transgender communities.
With the recent reforms the new law regarding schools, teachers will be allowed to fly the new city flags as long as it is pertinent to the curriculum in the classroom. Therefore, if someone believes that a flag a teacher has hung is not in alignment with their subject matter, they are within their rights to submit them to USBE (Utah State Board of Education) and UPPAC (Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission).
Classrooms that teach subjects that don’t apply to the new city flags will only be able to fly specific exempt flags. These include: the American Flag, the original Utah State Flag, the flag of an established region (cities, states, provinces, etc.), military flags, Indian tribal flags, college flags, and Olympic and Paralympic flags.
All other flags will be banned if not pertinent after the bill goes into law on May 7th, 2025.
Critics of the original bill argue that it is an attack on people’s individuality and representation, while others feel that it is a reinforcement of a neutral and fair learning space.
This bill was first introduced by Rep. Trevor Lee and passed both chambers of the Utah Legislature.
“Our schools should be a place for children to learn, to not feel like they are being pushed or seen as agendas in one way other another as it pertains to political beliefs,” Lee said in an interview with the Salt Lake Tribune.
In order to enforce this new law, institutions will be fined for incompliance. After an official report has been issued there is a grace period of 30 days to remove the flag. If it has not been removed following the grace period, a fine of $500 a day will be implemented, to be paid by the institution.
Teachers at Highland are all reacting to this change in their own ways. Some teachers did not have any flags that could violate the law but those that did are finding ways to work around it.
“Skiby [Highland’s FACS teacher] currently has a poster up on his door that has a rainbow and underneath says ‘This is not a pride flag’ with the law underneath,” Highland junior, Louise Marshall said.
Highland’s student body represents students from all backgrounds and identities and by removing these signs of support some teachers including Highland Spanish teacher, Valerie Gundlah are worried that students will feel unwelcomed at school.
“We want to create the most all-inclusive environment that we can possibly create, and I think anything we do to diminish that, makes the school less inviting to students,” Gundlah said.
Another Highland teacher, Steve Manwaring, believes that schools do not need to have physical representation to still be welcoming to students of all backgrounds.
“My room doesn’t have anything like that [pride flag, Black Lives Matter flag, Make America Great, etc.] but it doesn’t say I exclude anyone either,” Manwaring said. “It is a bill to reinforce that we fly the flag that represents what the institution represents, so as a result of that any other flag that Is not government issued is not appropriate.”
Highland teachers have begun removing flags from their classrooms to conform with the bill. Although the bill has not officially been put into law, people are eager to have their voices heard.
Regardless of peoples view on the bill, Highland is going to change but Highland’s goals will not. Everyone is welcome.
“I’m confident that all of our adults will be able to [be creative in making their room a welcoming space] in a way that makes everyone feel welcome and safe,” Chatterton said.
