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Flag of Missoula, Montana

The six-striped pride flag, one of Missoula's recognized city flags

The city of Missoula, Montana has designated the Pride flag as its official flag.[1][2] A result of this designation is that multiple forms of Pride flags are recognized as official flags.[3]

Resolution

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On June 2, 2025, the Missoula City Council passed a resolution with a vote of 9-2 titled "A Resolution of the Missoula City Council Recognizing the Pride Flag as an Official Flag of the City of Missoula" which recognized the Pride flag as the city's official flag.[4][1] The decision was made following a meeting in the city council chamber where a majority of public comments expressed support for the adoption of the flag.[5] The resolution was passed in response to Montana's H.B. 819, which banned certain flags (including pride flags) from being displayed at government and educational buildings.[2][6][7]

Because of the vague wording of "pride flag," it has been reported that all pride flags are accepted as an official flag of the city.[3]

Response from Montana government officials

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Greg Gianforte, the Republican governor of Montana, when asked about the decision, said: "[On June 2, 2025], nine members of the Missoula City Council made clear their top priority is flying a divisive pride flag over government buildings and schools -- all while ignoring the city's housing affordability crisis, raising taxes by 17% because of over spending, and refusing to take firm action to end encampments in the city. Missoulians deserve better, and fortunately, two council members voted against imposing this divisive, far-left agenda on their community."[1][8] Braxton Mitchell, a Republican member of the Montana House of Representatives and who sponsored H.B. 819, stated: "leave it to Missoula to try and turn a city flag into a pride flag,"[9] referencing the city's liberal-leaning population.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Howard, Phil (June 2, 2025). "Missoula approves pride flag as official city flag in opposition of new law". KECI. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Fairbanks, Katie (June 3, 2025). "Missoula recognizes Pride flag as an official city flag in response to new state law". Montana Free Press. Archived from the original on June 5, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Smith, Griffen (June 3, 2025). "'We won't go back': Missoula recognizes Pride flag in response to state law". The Missoulian. Retrieved June 5, 2025. The resolution passed by city council now allows all forms of the pride flag to be flown on government property.
  4. ^ Hansen, Jordan (June 3, 2025). "Missoula adopts Pride flag as official city flag". Daily Montanan. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  5. ^ Richardson, Taylor (June 2, 2025). "Missoula recognizes Pride Flag as an official city flag". NonStop Local Montana. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  6. ^ Current, Missoula (June 3, 2025). "City Council adopts Pride flag as official Missoula flag". The Missoula Current News - Daily News in Missoula Montana. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  7. ^ "Montana HB819 | 2025 | Regular Session". LegiScan. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  8. ^ "Gianforte blasts Missoula officials for adopting Pride flag as official banner". Spokesman.com. June 4, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  9. ^ Howard, Phil (June 3, 2025). "Missoula's pride flag adoption sparks disagreement among residents, officials". KECI. Archived from the original on June 5, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  10. ^ "Rep. Zooey Zephyr's town feels divide from rest of Montana after barring". PBS News. April 26, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2025.