Boise Removes LGBTQ+ Pride Flag After Idaho Governor Signs Bill to Fine City

The city took down the flag minutes after the governor signed a law banning non-approved flags on government property.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 7:51pm

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A fractured, abstract painting depicting the forcible removal of an LGBTQ+ pride flag from a government building, with overlapping geometric shapes and bold, clashing colors conveying a sense of political disruption and tension.The forced removal of Boise's LGBTQ+ pride flag reflects the ongoing clash between Idaho's conservative state government and the city's welcoming values.Boise Today

Minutes after Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed a bill that would fine cities for flying flags that aren't on the Legislature's pre-approved list, the city of Boise took down an LGBTQ+ pride flag that flew in front of its City Hall. Boise Mayor Lauren McLean said the flag isn't political, religious or ideological, but the Legislature's moves don't change the spirit of Boise as a safe and welcoming city for everyone.

Why it matters

The removal of the LGBTQ+ pride flag from Boise's City Hall highlights the ongoing tensions between state legislatures and local governments over issues of representation and inclusion. The new law banning non-approved flags on government property is seen by many as a direct attack on the LGBTQ+ community and the city's efforts to be a welcoming place.

The details

House Bill 561 allows fines of $2,000 per day for cities that violate last year's flag ban law, which lacked an enforcement mechanism. The Republican-controlled Legislature widely passed the bill, with the House sponsor, Rep. Ted Hill, saying it was meant to target Boise for flying the LGBTQ+ pride flag. Boise's City Council had voted last year to declare the pride flag and the organ donor flag as official flags, in an apparent move to work around the Legislature's previous flag ban law.

  • At 11:44 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed the bill into law.
  • At 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Boise removed the LGBTQ+ pride flag from in front of City Hall.

The players

Brad Little

The Republican governor of Idaho who signed the bill banning non-approved flags on government property.

Lauren McLean

The mayor of Boise who said the city's values and spirit of being a safe and welcoming place for everyone won't change despite the Legislature's actions.

Meredith Stead

The Boise City Council President who said the pride flag is a symbol of heritage, welcome, and safety, and that the city's commitment to those values does not waver.

Ted Hill

The Republican state representative who sponsored the bill, saying it was meant to target Boise for flying the LGBTQ+ pride flag.

Raúl Labrador

The Idaho Attorney General who would be able to enforce the flag ban law through lawsuits and fines against cities.

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What they’re saying

“Despite the efforts taken by the Legislature, the values and spirit of the city won't change — cannot be changed. Because the care that we have for our residents runs deep, and we will continue to fight to ensure that we're a safe and welcoming city for everyone.”

— Lauren McLean, Boise Mayor

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

— Meredith Stead, Boise City Council President

“We hold the citizenry accountable to follow all the laws, and government's not an exception.”

— Josh Keyser, State Senator

“Local control is an important principle we should stand behind. It's good for governance. It's always made sense. And it still does. But statutes like this shows that we are kind of losing sight of that important principle.”

— James Ruchti, Senate Assistant Minority Leader

What’s next

The Idaho Legislature is also pursuing a separate bill that would let the Attorney General seek to temporarily disqualify local elected officials and government employees from holding office or working for the government if they 'willfully' violate state law, which could impact Boise officials who continue to defy the flag ban.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the ongoing tensions between state legislatures and local governments over issues of representation and inclusion, with the new law seen by many as a direct attack on the LGBTQ+ community and Boise's efforts to be a welcoming place. The removal of the pride flag from City Hall, despite the mayor's assertion that the city's values won't change, underscores the power imbalance between state and local governments on social issues.