Well, as the Governor of Idaho. (appropriately named Mr Little) has made a major priority signing a bill into law penalizing local government for flying Pride flags on government property, we have put the State on our List of Places To Totally Avoid.  The Governor’s ban is for all government entities, including buildings, adjoining land, parks, roads and boulevards.

Now the only approved flags include the American flag, official city or county flags designated prior to 2023, military branch or unit flags, the prisoner of war-missing in action (POW/MIA) flag, Native American tribal flags, a single college or university flag, and flags that are “not political, religious, or ideological in nature.”

Republican lawmakers argued that flags such as the Pride flag are not “viewpoint neutral” and instead convey a “political” or “ideological” message, warranting restriction. Under the law, localities that display non-approved flags face fines of $2,000 per day, with each flag treated as a separate violation.

The law directs the attorney general’s office to sue entities that display unapproved flags,but requires officials to notify localities of a violation and give them 10 days to comply before taking legal action. It includes an exemption for temporary parades or assemblies on government property, which are considered expressions of free speech.

Last year, the Boise City Council  (the capital of Idaho) designated the Pride flag and the organ donor flag as official city flags in an effort to sidestep a state law aimed at prohibiting Pride flag displays, and that so riled up Idaho Republicans  They are now also advancing a separate bill — that would allow the attorney general’s office to temporarily disqualify local elected officials or government employees accused of “willfully” violating or circumventing state law.

Boise Mayor Lauren McLean told the Idaho Capital Sun that it was clear that the law — which purports to apply to a host of non-approved flags — was deliberately targeting “one flag, and one flag only.”

Speaking to a group of citizens who assembled as the flag was taken down, McLean pushed back against Republican talking points that the Pride flag is somehow “political” or “ideological.” She also said that the law won’t change the LGBTQ-affirming values that city residents embrace.

Boise City Council President Meredith Stead said in a statement that the Pride flag is a “symbol of heritage, welcome, and safety.”

“We are taking it down because the law forces us to,” Stead said. “But our commitment to every person who has looked at that flag and felt seen does not waver for a single moment.”

The American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho added  “Supporting the Pride flag communicates that all people, especially LGBTQ+ folks, have safety, value, and acceptance in our community,” the organization said in a statement. “Banning flags is a clear infringement on the First Amendment, and is a dangerous step toward controlling how people think and speak in public places.”