In Utah, a flag can now say too much.
Earlier this year, the passage of HB 77 quietly transformed public spaces into zones of selective silence. Under this law, only certain flags are allowed to fly like the American flag, state symbols, and a few government-approved emblems. Flags representing identity, advocacy, or belonging are now banned.
The Myth of Neutrality
This legislation claims to promote “political neutrality,” but in reality, it enforces selective censorship. After all, there is nothing “politically neutral” about limiting free speech. HB 77 disguises discrimination under the pretense of neutrality and erases the visibility of many Utahns from public life. As critics of the bill have warned, the law invites free speech litigation, chills expression in schools, and leaves vulnerable communities feeling erased and unwelcome. What HB 77 truly represents is not neutrality, but raw fear: fear of difference, fear of identity, and fear of change.
Moreover, the language used to frame the bill is vague and excluding. “Display” is defined as placing a flag in a prominent, visible location on government property, and the law carves out exceptions only for flags that align with state-sanctioned “causes.” By selectively allowing only some perspectives to be visible, the bill restricts expressive speech in public institutions and sends a clear message: only some people belong here.
The Cost to Classrooms
Now, more than ever teachers and administrators are afraid of displaying flags, of showing their support. This ingrained fear may lead to educators simply opting out of showing any symbols that indicate inclusion. Ultimately, this absence creates an environment where marginalized students feel unseen and unsupported. This leads to detrimental effects in learning retention as research shows that students thrive when they feel a sense of belonging. They are more engaged, more motivated, and more likely to succeed academically. With the implementation of HB 77 this is sure to decrease as HB 77 violates this essential sense of safety.
Even in Utah’s most diverse schools, students still face barriers toward expression. For them, seeing a pride flag or a heritage symbol in a classroom is more than a political statement – it’s a lifeline. A signal that, here I can belong, here I can be myself. Without these signals of safety, students are more likely to experience anxiety and suppress parts of their identity. Teachers lose the ability to build authentic relationships with their students. That loss is not only educational, it is deeply human.
Worse yet, HB 77 contains enforcement mechanisms including potential fines. These punitive measures introduce fear and ambiguity into schools and government workplaces, pressuring administrators and teachers to over-correct to avoid penalties. Salt Lake City, understanding the profound transcendental impacts this bill has, took fast action and public stand against HB 77. It was due to this quick thinking that Salt Lake can still fly their flags high.
Erasure Beyond Education
While much of the discussion around HB 77 has centered on schools and students, the bill extends far beyond the classroom. This legislation applies to all government property across Utah, including city halls, public libraries, courthouses, and other public institutions. Anywhere considered a government entity is now subject to the same restrictions on flag displays.
That means a Pride flag in a public library window, a cultural celebration banner at a city event, or a symbol of solidarity displayed in a government office is now prohibited. These public spaces are being stripped of identity.
The result is a quiet but powerful erasure. By banning certain flags from all government-owned spaces, Utah is signaling whose voices matter, and whose do not. And it sends a chilling message to the people: either conform or disappear. HB 77 isn’t just targeting student expression; it’s shrinking the public square for everyone.
The Illusion of “No Politics”
Today, it’s flags. Tomorrow, it could be books, curriculum, classroom discussions, or even free thought. The logic of HB 77; the government determining which identities are too “controversial” to be seen, paves a dangerous path. As Governor Spencer Cox acknowledged, HB 77 is “one of the most divisive bills of the session.” Though he signed it into law, he simultaneously offered words of comfort to Utah’s LGBTQ+ community: “I know that recent legislation has been difficult… I want you to know that I love and appreciate you… I know these words may ring hollow.” Indeed, they do. Because love without protection is hollow. Appreciation without policy is meaningless.
However, censorship traverses many realms and here it’s not about what is removed but rather who is removed. Due to the implementation of HB 77, marginalized communities are being stripped of their voices, their symbols, and their flags. HB 77’s slippery slope is no longer a fallacy but rather an impending reality.
Pluralism – defined as the “a state of society in which members of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, or social groups maintain and develop their traditional culture or special interest within the confines of a common civilization”- is a cornerstone of democracy. HB 77 weakens that foundation by silencing minority expression, mandating ideological conformity, and discouraging civic education. When students are told their personal identities are too “political” to be displayed, we are not teaching neutrality, we are teaching exclusion.
The concept of “neutrality” introduced in HB 77 is an illusion. In reality, this so-called neutrality becomes a mechanism for silencing voices that deviate from the mainstream. Even saying nothing says something. By removing Pride and BLM flags while allowing nationalistic symbols, the law is not neutral, it is nationalist. It doesn’t remove politics from classrooms; it replaces one type of politics with another.
This Is Not Just About a Flag
HB 77 is not just about cloth on a pole. It is about visibility, voice, and validation. It asks us: who gets to be seen? Who gets to belong? The answer, under this law, is not everyone.
But here’s the truth: a government that fears a flag fears the people it governs. And a state that silences its most vulnerable does not build unity, it builds resentment. If we truly care about our children, we will not shield them from difference, we will prepare them for it. The future of public education, democracy, and belonging depends on our willingness to protect every student’s right to see themselves reflected in the world around them.
Take a Stand
Let us raise the flag, not just as a symbol, but as a stand. Support Alliance for a Better Utah’s initiative to distribute Pride Flags. Go to thisisnotaprideflag.com and support the initiative.
Author: Aahana Sharmacharya
Aahana was born in Madison, Wisconsin, and raised in Canada before moving to Utah. Here, she attends high school entering junior year this coming fall. An aspiring orthopedic surgeon, she’s passionate about mobility, healthcare access, and building a more equitable future for all Utahns.
Her interest in medicine began with volunteer work at a senior care center and expanded through hands-on experience as a physical therapy technician, where she supported patients working to regain strength and independence. These experiences sparked her deeper curiosity about how policy and advocacy impact public health—especially for underserved communities.
At school, Aahana is an active member of HOSA–Future Health Professionals and participates in initiatives that promote both physical and emotional well-being. She’s also an avid writer and aspiring author, currently working toward publishing her debut book. In her free time, she enjoys skiing at Brighton and going hiking.
Through her internship with Better Utah, Aahana hopes to amplify youth voices in policy conversations and explore how advocacy can shape a healthier, more just society.
