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Gordon Monson: A Utah lawmaker threatens ‘significant legislation’ after hockey team posts a Pride Month graphic

The two pro franchises shared Pride Month graphics. The response was ugly, The Tribune columnist writes.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) A Utah Mammoth banner is raised outside Delta Center in Salt Lake City on May 7, 2025. Smith Entertainment Group has announced that the Mammoth will be the new name for the former Utah Hockey Club.

Every once in a while in this supposed pretty, great state, you have to scratch your head and wonder: What the hell’s the matter with some people around here?

The Utah Jazz and the Utah Mammoth send out on social media platforms gentle and proper support at the onset of Pride Month to those who can use it, and what comes back at them like a swatted jump shot, a flagrant foul, or the slash of a hockey stick to the midsection?

Hate, that’s what. Or something akin to it.

It’s understood that reactions to online posts from sports teams or anyone else — sports writers, too — can be and often are extreme. Many responders are anonymous, made courageous and bold and loud and obnoxious by the cover of a screen and a keyboard. They say things cloaked as they are, things they never would say face to face with another person or persons. But, on the other hand, they might be a poisonous reflection of what some individuals actually think.

After all, one state lawmaker, Rep. Trevor Lee, R-Layton, threatened “significant legislation” in response to seeing the hockey team’s graphic.

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

Some of the reactions to the Jazz and the Mammoth for their Pride posts, genuine or otherwise, are nothing short of pathetic. And while it might do no good and, in some cases, make it worse to give any attention or oxygen to hateful, moronic things people type, this is an instance where it’s worth it to lash back by further revealing the ignorance.

Here are some of the responses to the Jazz and Mammoth posts, which featured the team logos, splashed with rainbow colors, in the Jazz’s case saying “Take Note,” accompanied by a short message that read: “Take note and take pride. Join us in uplifting and showing love to our LGBTQ+ community as we work to foster a safer and more inclusive space for all.”

Here goes:

— “Done with the Jazz.”

— “Looks like both of Utah’s pro teams are simply advertising themselves as city teams only, not Utah teams. Because Utah hates this crap.”

— “The subtext: The Jazz wants everyone to know they hate 80% of Utah.”

— “Aaaaaand one more reason to not watch basketball.”

— ”Basketball?”

— “Well, there goes any respect I had left for the Jazz. Oh well.”

— “Ryan Smith is actively destroying Utah’s values.”

— “God created male and female..Pride comes before destruction”

— “For the love of our Heavenly Father, I pray that this degenerate sports franchise will continue to suffer attendance and financial losses.”

— “Goodbye Utah Jazz. Take note and pound sand. Same goes for hockey.”

— ”Hockey?”

— “You guys were ok for about 30 seconds”

— “There is no happiness in pride. Mammoth mistake.”

— “Now I’m actively rooting against you. Great job being divisive.”

And many, many more, some so foul they cannot be repeated here, not even cloaked and edited with dashes.

Yeah, I know these are sports teams, and some folks want local pro franchises scrubbed completely clean of any hint of social leanings or support. But calling for love and inclusion for all, regardless of orientation, rightfully triggers and justifies these kinds of reactions how? I find it particularly curious that people who consider themselves Christian are some of the most malicious and venomous and hateful of all.

Sometimes I think even the crueler parts of Utah can be better than this. And sometimes I don’t.

Some people might wonder why there should be any attention paid to Pride, for a day, let alone an entire month. But, as is indicated by the aforementioned reactions, nudges and reminders might be helpful bit by bit in an educational kind of way, not as a means of promotion, rather as a road to greater understanding. Letting loathing and ignorance go unchecked is useful to nobody.

Get offline, then, and take a look around, at your friends, your relatives, your neighbors, the fan sitting next to you at the arena.

And love them, include them, accept them. Get away from nasty, unkind indoctrination. Think it through.

As one fan wrote in reply to the graphic, “Thank you. As the father to a gay son this is much appreciated.”

Not all responders are backward and unenlightened.

Happy Pride.