An Idaho law on flying Pride flags on government property has drawn mixed reactions in one city, where a workaround to protest the ban saw pride-colored wraps installed on flagpoles instead.

Governor Brad Little signed a law banning displays, including Pride flags, on government property, though the Boise City Council had voted in 2025 to make the Pride Flag an “official city flag.” Now Boise city leaders have found a way to “comply” with the law while still supporting the LGBTQ community.

“The law was based on the flag and we are using rainbows, so and its not at all a flag, so I would say we are in full compliance of the law, thats certainly the most important thing to us so we’re going to be sure that we always are and this was just a different way to celebrate our diversity and values,” Boise City Council President Meredith Stead said, according to CBS2.

I think Boise, Idaho needs a new City Council.

Boise City Hall in Idaho adds pride colored pole wraps, signs, citing compliance with flag law.

The wraps were placed directly on the flagpoles themselves, along with signage inside City Hall. City leaders emphasized the displays… pic.twitter.com/RVKVNik2qI

— DenvilleCommunity (@iDenville) April 8, 2026

“The Pride flag is not a political statement. It is a symbol of heritage, welcome and safety,” Stead said in a March 31 statement. “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.”

I just learned Idaho Republicans banned the Pride flag, so Boise officials painted their flagpoles in Pride colors as an act of protest.

That’s a fantastic act of protest. pic.twitter.com/azbLCA17yI

— Mike Nellis (@MikeNellis) April 8, 2026

“The bill, HB 561, comes after previous attempts to outlaw the Pride flag on city and county property in the 2025 legislative session. Skirting around the ban, Mayor Lauren McLean and City Council continued flying the flag due to a lack of enforcement mechanisms in the 2025 legislation,” according to the Idaho State Journal.

The Idaho legislature forced Boise to take down its Pride flag, so Mayor Lauren McLean and the City Council wrapped the flagpoles in rainbow colors and put a sign in the window that reads “Creating a city for everyone.” pic.twitter.com/GhqGkmMl4m

— Spunky0613 (@KarenHoward42) April 10, 2026

Social media reactions to the form of protest were mixed, but many blasted the “Performative trash” and waste of taxpayer dollars.

Childish, yes. Fantastic, not really.

— ShadowProphet (@ProphetSha35138) April 9, 2026

Sad to be part of a group whos entire identity revolves around their sexual activity and making sure everyone else is forced to know about it.

— DougForThePeople (@Doug4ThePeople) April 9, 2026

Performative trash. What’s even worse is that you don’t see what a transparent act of pandering this is. These people don’t care about you or anyone else but themselves and their ideological goals. Man, it’s so sad to see a retarded man embarrass himself like this.

— The Esoteric Christian (@TheEsotericChr) April 9, 2026

City officials dont get to “protest” on public tax dollars

— Devonteshiquanda (@Devonteshiquand) April 9, 2026

This is why LGBTQ support is declining. It is shoved down our throats in every public and private space at all times.

— best decade ever (@ZachFOCO) April 8, 2026

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