Washington state councilwoman says pride flag ‘more relatable’ than American flag

A Lynnwood, Washington, city councilwoman is facing widespread backlash after questioning whether a local park’s 27 American flags still reflect the city’s diversity — and declaring that she finds the pride flag far more personally relatable than the Stars and Stripes.

Isabel Mata, a member of the Lynnwood City Council, made the remarks during a Monday council meeting focused on Wilcox Park, known locally as “Flag Park,” which displays flagpoles bearing various historical versions of the American flag. Ms. Mata questioned whether the display reflects Lynnwood’s multicultural population and raised the possibility of adding commemorative flags.

“To me, a pride flag is way more relatable than an American flag. I would not raise an American flag at my house because I wouldn’t. I wasn’t even born here. But I would raise a pride flag,” Ms. Mata said at the meeting. “As the most diverse city in all of Snohomish County, I don’t think that I’m the only one.”

She argued that the park’s flags represent “parts of American history that, frankly, are not great,” and said the city should consider how it might better reflect its community through its public spaces.

The remarks spread rapidly on social media, drawing criticism from veterans, residents and conservative commentators. The popular conservative X account Libs of TikTok amplified the clip, and Fox News contributor Miranda Devine responded bluntly: “’I wasn’t even born here.’ Then shut up.” Others posted questions such as “If you hate America that much, then why are you still here?”

Facing the backlash, Ms. Mata issued a public apology and walked back her comments, telling Fox News Digital she had been speaking “personally, as a queer woman, about what the pride flag means to me.”

“I apologize for the way I expressed myself, and I mean that sincerely. The American flag represents the sacrifices of veterans and military families, and the promise that drew immigrants like me to this country,” Ms. Mata said. “I should have honored that more carefully in my remarks, and I did not. I have deep respect for everyone who has served under that flag.”

She also clarified that her remarks were “not a formal policy proposal” but were intended to raise a broader question about how Lynnwood might better reflect its community. Any formal changes to public spaces, she said, would require a public process with full community input.

Ms. Mata describes herself in her official government biography as a “queer, neurodivergent writer, advocate, and mindfulness meditation teacher.”

The controversy arrives weeks before Memorial Day and the July 4 celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. It also comes amid a broader national debate over flag displays: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, New York Democrat, introduced legislation in February that would designate the pride flag as a congressionally authorized symbol, granting it the same federal protections as the U.S. flag and military flags. Mr. Schumer introduced the bill after the Trump administration removed a pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument in New York City.