Boise has flown the LGBT Pride flag for years as a symbol of support for Queer Idahoans – a small gesture of affirmation in one of the most conservative states in the country. But in 2025, that simple act of visibility became too much for Idaho’s far-right to tolerate.
So, far-right lawmakers introduced House Bill 96, which was passed and signed into law during the 2025 legislative session. This law prohibits cities, counties, and the state from flying any flag except the U.S. flag, state flags, military flags, or a handful of other “approved” banners. On its face, the bill doesn’t name the Pride flag – but let’s call a rose a rose. This was an attempt to erase Queer visibility from public spaces.
Here’s the twist: the law contains no punishment for non-compliance. So, in a rare act of civil resistance, the City of Boise chose not to comply. The Pride flag continued to fly over City Hall – a silent but powerful gesture of solidarity with the marginalized.
That’s when the firestorm began. On April 15th Attorney General Raúl Labrador sent a letter to Boise Mayor Lauren McLean urging her to “reconsider [her] defiance” and take the flag down. In that same letter, Labrador warned that he was coordinating with lawmakers to create punishments for non-compliance in the next legislative session. These punishments would include Withholding state funds and tax revenue. Representative Heather Scott has essentially said this is what she is anticipating on Twitter. However, for the time being this law is essentially unenforceable, and the Ada County Sherriff has said as much. Far-right activists have been frustrated, and since the state’s hands are tied they began to call for vigilante action.
On April 20th, 2025 at 4:30 AM – Easter Sunday – a group of right-wing activists took matters into their own hands. David Pettinger – who does political activism in brownface, doxxes rape victims, dresses up as Hitler at protests, owns idahoextremist.com, and openly identifies as an extremist on Twitter – brought a ladder to Boise City Hall, stuffed the Pride flag into a trash bag, and hoisted an “Appeal to Heaven” flag above it. Another extremist, Casey Whalen, posted a video of the entire act online and framed it as a righteous, patriotic correction.
The “Appeal to Heaven” flag is a Revolutionary War-era naval banner originally authorized by George Washington. The far-right is able to justify hoisting this flag as being HB 96-compliant since it was once a state flag of Massachusetts. However, in recent years this flag has been co-opted by Christian nationalists like Dutch Sheets of the New Apostolic Reformation, and was even seen at the January 6 Capitol riot. Today, it’s a symbol of spiritual warfare, political dominion, and the belief that America should be governed according to fundamentalist Christian values – by force if necessary.
So, let’s be clear about what happened: On Easter Sunday, Christian nationalists desecrated a symbol of Queer inclusion, threw it in the trash, and raised their own flag of religious dominance in its place. And they did it not as a fringe act – but as a statement.
If you’re Queer in Idaho, please be careful. The far-right is emboldened, organizing, escalating, and increasingly willing to act outside the law. Boise is the blue oasis of Idaho, and they have stood with us and will continue for as long as they can. However, if we are honest with ourselves, this is a fight that the far-right is going to win in Idaho.
This is yet another step that seeks to eliminate Queer people from society. If you are a Queer Idahoan, I strongly recommend moving to a state where your safety is more sure. If you are a non-Queer Idahoan, we NEED you to start being civilly disobedient to protect those of us who aren’t able to flee to safety.