The city council of Boise, Idaho, passed a resolution this week recognizing the Pride flag.
The move stands in opposition to a new law that prohibits government entities from flying flags other than the American flag, POW/MIA flag, or other official government flags.
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador sent a letter to Boise Mayor Lauren McLean last month, addressing the display of another unauthorized flag.
“Though you are required to govern the city in accordance with the law, you have instead chosen to defy the Legislature—and by extension, the people of Idaho whom the Legislature represents—and to act as though your personal political views exempt you from compliance,” the letter read. “This action sends a clear message that if an official disagrees with a law passed by the duly elected representatives of the people, she is not obliged to comply.”
“I have discussed this matter with legislative leadership who have indicated to me that they will respond next session with strong enforcement tools against those who openly violate this law,” Labrador added. “Further, I have spoken with them about taking legislative action, similar to HB 22 (2023), to deny state tax revenues and other appropriations to the City of Boise or any other governmental entity that does not follow state law.”
McLean said in a response letter to Labrador that it was “important to be honest with each other and the citizens we serve about the real issue. HB96 was brought by a legislator hostile to Boise and was touted, specifically, as a vehicle to force the City of Boise to take down the Pride flag that has flown at City Hall for nearly 10 years.”
She added that the city was “acting out of duty.”
