Nazi flags can fly in Utah schools, but not pride flags, GOP lawmaker says
An ongoing fight in Utah to ban pride flags in schools entered new territory Thursday after Rep. Trevor Lee proposed new legislation to ban the flags not just in public schools, but in any government building or on any government property.
The bill, HB0077, originally applied only to schools. But an update to the bill released ahead of Thursday’s House Education Committee hearing expands the ban to all government buildings or property. The updated bill was favorably recommended by the committee, with the committee’s two Democrats — Reps. Sahara Hayes and Carol Moss — casting the only “nays.” It will now be heard on the full House floor.
Approved flags for display in government buildings and schools would include the Utah state and U.S. flags, military flags, flags for other countries, flags for Native American tribes and official flags for colleges and universities. The bill also allows for the flying of a “historic version of a flag … that is temporarily displayed for educational purposes,” which Lee, R-Layton, said would include the Confederate and Nazi flags.
Sure, why not. Give the current regime, the Hakenkreuz will probably be available for more than just temporary educational purposes. Having said which:
In a phone call Thursday night, Lee disputed that he ever said a Nazi flag could be displayed, and argued that would not be allowed under his bill.
”There is a difference between displaying flags in curriculum when you’re teaching on them,” he said. “You don’t censor history here. That’s not what we’re doing.”
No, of course not, what you’re ACTUALLY censoring is queer people. Also, this is Utah we’re talking about; covering up inconvenient historical details and lying about them is something the LDS Church has always been good at. So don’t come it with me, Trevor. I may not have much knowledge of Mormon history compared to some actual experts, but even I know that much about them…
