Missoula, Montana, voted to adopt the Pride flag as the city’s official flag in a 9-2 vote.
“Currently, there is only one official flag for the City of Missoula, and that’s the Pride flag adopted last night. There was no prior official flag,” City Attorney for the City of Missoula Ryan Sudbury told NBC Montana.
The flag’s adoption is a response to HB 819, which restricted the implementation of “political or ideological advocacy” in flying flags. “Allowing nongovernmental or politically charged symbols on state property creates inconsistency in enforcement, legal challenges, and public divisiveness, undermining the neutrality and inclusivity of government spaces,” the bill adds.
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte (R) criticized the move. “Last night, nine members of the Missoula City Council made clear their top priority is flying a divisive pride flag over government buildings and schools — all while ignoring the city’s housing affordability crisis, raising taxes by 17% because of over spending, and refusing to take firm action to end encampments in the city,” he said. “Missoulians deserve better, and fortunately, two council members voted against imposing this divisive, far-left agenda on their community.”
“Leave it to Missoula to try and turn a city flag into a pride flag. Nothing says ‘unity’ like politicizing public property. The ultra far left Missoula City Council and their mayor are completely out of touch with reality and the values of the vast majority of Montanans,” said State Rep. Braxton Mitchell (R). Taxpayer owned property should represent everyone, not just the loudest political movements of the moment. The pride flag, like any other political symbol, has no place replacing a city’s identity. This is exactly why we resoundingly passed HB819 to stop governments from hijacking public property to push ideology.”
