GOP lawmaker threatens 'significant legislation' after Mammoth, Jazz celebrate Pride month

SALT LAKE CITY — A state lawmaker has threatened "significant legislation" after Utah professional sports teams posted celebratory messages about Pride month.

Over the weekend, the Utah Mammoth posted a message on the social platform X that said, "Happy Pride!" along with a rainbow flag. Pride month is recognized each June as a celebration of LGBTQ+ rights and culture.

The Utah Jazz posted a similar social media message about Pride, urging love and support for the LGBTQ+ community "as we work to foster a safer and more inclusive space for all."

But Rep. Trevor Lee, R-Layton, took issue with the hockey team's message, saying that "Utahns overwhelmingly don't support pride month."

"Nothing makes Utahns more mad when political ideologies get pushed into their lives. And even worse, having taxes prop up these ideologies," Lee wrote on X. "Watch for some significant legislation this next session that pushes back onto these woke groups!"

Both teams are owned by Smith Entertainment Group, which is currently pursuing a downtown redevelopment project involving some taxpayer funding.

In response to pushback from Rep. Andrew Stoddard, D-Sandy, who accused Lee of "using big government against personal opinion," Lee wrote on X: "'Pride' is about promoting the social acceptance of gay sex, transgender child mutilation and various other forms of iniquity. Its premise is that they are not just not sinful, but worthy of celebration."

Lee declined an interview with KSL Monday and did not elaborate on his plans for legislation, saying, "You'll have to wait and see." He would only say that the Utah Legislature "will be putting a stop to entities that will take taxpayer money from pushing political agendas."

The Smith Entertainment Group did not respond to a request for comment.

Utahns overwhelmingly don't support pride month.
We are the most kind people in the world and are taken advantage of because of that kindness.
Nothing makes Utahns more mad when political ideologies get pushed into their lives. And even worse, having taxes prop up these… https://t.co/NzjUn52xVv

— Trevor Lee (@VoteTrevorLee) June 1, 2025

It's unclear whether Lee's ideas — whatever they are — would have support from legislative leaders when the next legislative session begins in January 2026. A spokesperson said House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, did not immediately have a comment.

"Senate leadership hasn't seen or discussed any legislation from Rep. Lee and don't have a comment," added Aundrea Peterson, Utah Senate majority spokesperson.

Real Salt Lake, which is owned by Miller Sports + Entertainment, also posted a statement saying it was "Proud to celebrate Pride. Together we support & recognize the LGBTQIA+ community this month and always."

Equality Utah, an LGBTQ+ rights organization, said it "stands proudly with the LGBTQ community and with all those who choose love and acceptance over division," saying Lee's comments reflect "hostility and intolerance," and that the responses were aimed at companies engaging in free speech protected by the First Amendment.

Past statements

Lee, who took office in 2023, has been one of the most outspoken Republicans in the state to push back against Pride and was the sponsor of a bill earlier this year that banned all but a few approved flags from being flown in classrooms and on public buildings. That bill was widely seen as an effort to restrict cities from flying Pride flags, but Salt Lake City sidestepped the restriction by adopting modified Progress Pride, Juneteenth and transgender flags as official flags of the city.

A recent Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll showed 62% of Utah voters either strongly or somewhat supported Lee's bill.

In 2023, Lee was one of several lawmakers who complained about rainbow livery on a Pride-themed Utah Transit Authority bus, resulting in the bus being pulled from that year's Utah Pride Parade. Prior to taking office, he used a private X account to mock LGBTQ+ people and used an anti-transgender slur he later said he "had no clue" was "so disparaging."

"Pride month is a time to celebrate love, acceptance and the diversity that strengthens our communities," Equality Utah added in its statement Monday. "As Winston Churchill once said, 'A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.' Rep. Lee seems to spend a lot of time and energy on social media, preoccupied with restricting the freedom of LGBTQ Utahns."

Where does Gov. Cox stand?

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, has traditionally been supportive of Pride month. In 2021, a few months after taking office, he formally recognized it, declaring that "we should all strive to be more inclusive and accepting of the LGBTQ+ members of our community."

Since then, he has taken a step back, such as declaring June 2024 "A Month of Bridge Building" instead. The governor said at the time that his previous declarations of Pride month had "turned into a lightning rod for more division and hurt."

This year, Cox said he's focusing on unifying values such as "service, respect and love for our neighbor."

"To those celebrating Pride and to all Utahns: may we keep building bridges of understanding and strive always to see the humanity in one another," the governor posted on X on Sunday.

A spokesperson for Cox did not comment Monday on Lee's post about Pride and his promise of legislation.

Pride month celebrations have been increasingly targeted by political attacks in and outside of Utah. Some major brands are scaling back Pride merchandise and events this year out of fear of reprisals from conservative activists and the Trump administration, according to CNN.

Even as support for same-sex marriage and nondiscrimination protections for the LGBTQ+ community has dipped slightly nationally, a survey from the Public Religion Research Institute found that 86% of Utahns expressed support for laws protecting people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation in 2023. That same survey found about 9% of Utahns identify as LGBTQ+.

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