Boise City Council affirms three official city flags, including pride flag, in 5-1 vote

At a Boise City Council meeting, the council voted 5-1 to adopt a resolution acknowledging a mayoral proclamation that retroactively designated three official Boise flags: the blue Boise city flag, the rainbow “pride” flag, and a flag recognizing National Donate Life Month. Councilmembers said the action was intended to align the city’s longstanding practice with state law following passage of House Bill 96.

The council’s vote formalizes a proclamation the mayor said she had already issued, which she described as retroactive and intended to ensure the city complied with HB 96 while preserving the city’s message of inclusion. "I signed an official proclamation that retroactively established three flags as official Boise flags," the mayor said during the meeting, adding that the action was meant to keep the city’s longstanding practice intact while meeting legal requirements.

Supporters framed the resolution as an affirmation of Boise’s values. A council sponsor said the measure was not intended to replace the city flag, but to ensure the city's practices complied with state law. Several councilmembers described personal reasons they supported the measure, including wanting to signal safety and belonging to LGBTQ residents and to prospective employers considering Boise.

Opponents said the council was compelled to make the change by state law and raised concerns about the potential financial and legal consequences of formalizing the flags. One councilmember said she planned to vote no, describing constituent opposition and saying the city should uphold the traditional city flag only. That member voted against the resolution; five councilmembers voted in favor.

The mayor told the council the proclamation and the subsequent resolution were intended to bring the city into compliance with HB 96 and to “change the system because we must,” so the city could continue flying the flags that leaders said reflect the city’s values. The mayor also told the meeting the action was already taken and the resolution simply acknowledged and supported that proclamation.

The council’s formal roll call recorded five votes in favor and one opposed; the motion carried. Following the vote the meeting recessed for five minutes.

Why it matters: supporters said the flags serve as a visible message of inclusion for residents and potential new businesses and employees; opponents said the resolution accepts a legal change they oppose and could expose the city to legal or financial consequences. The transcript records extended, at times emotional, remarks from multiple councilmembers on how the flags affect residents’ sense of safety and belonging.