Utah lawmaker seeks to rename SLC's Harvey Milk Boulevard
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Street sign for Harvey Milk Boulevard. Photo: Kim Bojórquez/Axios
A Republican lawmaker from Layton is proposing to rename a portion of Salt Lake City's 900 South — currently honoring slain gay rights leader Harvey Milk — after conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot at Utah Valley University last month.
Why it matters: The proposal taps into a recent push by conservatives to reshape which political figures and chapters of history are honored in public spaces, from national parks to museums.
State of play: State Rep. Trevor Lee, whose district does not include Salt Lake City, previously expressed interest in renaming the segment of road in June after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the U.S. Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk.
What they're saying: Lee told Axios that he's introduced a bill file with the proposal renaming Harvey Milk Boulevard to Charlie Kirk Boulevard.
- Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall had no comment on the proposal, according to a spokesperson for her office.
Catch up quick: Lee co-sponsored a controversial bill during this year's legislative session to ban unsanctioned flags, including pride flags, in schools and government buildings.
- After the session, Salt Lake City sidestepped state law by adopting a rainbow pride flag as an official city flag.
Flashback: The Salt Lake City Council unanimously voted in 2016 to rename part of 900 South after Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California, SF Gate reported.
- Milk, a city supervisor elected in 1977, and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were both shot and killed by a former city supervisor in 1978.
"There are a lot of perceptions of what Salt Lake City is and is not," said Stan Penfold, the city's first openly gay council member, who authored the measure honoring Milk, at the time, per SF Gate.
Reality check: Under state law, cities have jurisdiction to change the name of their streets.
What we're watching: If Lee's bill moves forward, it would renew debate around the Utah Legislature overriding local authority.
- That theme has been pointed out in past legislative sessions, with Salt Lake City often in the crosshairs of such efforts.
Go deeper: Charlie Kirk tribute proposed at UVU after fatal shooting