Isabel Mata, a city councilwoman in Lynnwood, Washington, has ignited controversy after suggesting during a council meeting that the LGBTQ pride flag is 'more relatable' than the American flag and should be flown in a public park instead.
Background on Isabel Mata
Since 2025, Mata has served as a progressive member on the Lynnwood City Council. She describes herself as 'a queer, neurodivergent writer, advocate, and mindfulness meditation teacher'. Lynnwood is a small city located approximately 17 miles north of Seattle.
The Flag Debate at Wilcox Park
During Monday's council meeting, Mata made her comments about the pride flag following a lengthy discussion about amending Lynnwood's policy on which flags are flown at Wilcox Park, known affectionately by locals as 'Flag Park'.
'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 just wouldn't. I wasn't even born here. But I would raise a pride flag,' Mata said.
'And as the most diverse city in all of Snohomish County, I don't think that I'm the only one who would maybe choose to have 27 other flags in Flag Park.'
The United States has had 27 official flags since 1777, with the current 50-star flag in use since July 4, 1960. Wilcox Park, established in 1962, displays all 27 flags. Mata implied that because the US has had challenging periods in its history, these flags should perhaps not be flown.
'Does this park represent the values that were here in the 1960s when they established this park? Do we hold those same values now, and are they representative of the Lynnwood as we see it today?' she asked.
'Because if we're having this issue of we have so many things that we want to represent, this community is filled with so many beautiful cultures and diverse backgrounds and all of these things, yet we have 27 iterations of the same flag, some representing parts of American history that, frankly, are not great,' she added.
Conservative Backlash
Conservatives harshly criticized Mata for her remarks, especially given that this year marks America's 250th anniversary as a nation.
'Whatever arguments someone wants to make about American history, there is something genuinely troubling about an elected official using the semiquincentennial year to propose clearing away the flags in a park built specifically to honor them,' said Jason Rantz, a radio host for SeattleRed.
'Mata is not wrong that Lynnwood is a diverse city. She is wrong to assume that diverse communities cannot identify with the American flag,' Rantz added.
Mata's Apology
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Mata clarified her earlier statements and apologized.
'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,' she 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.'
Proposed Amendment to Flag Policy
During the council meeting, Mata sought to introduce an amendment that would give the council the power to suggest which flags can be displayed at public parks and City Hall. Currently, this power is reserved for the mayor.
Mata specifically addressed which two flags should fly from the center pole at Wilcox Park. That pole has only two attachment points and currently flies the POW/MIA flag alongside either the Washington state or American flag.
The mayor has exclusive authority to decide which commemorative flags can be flown at City Hall under Lynnwood's flag policy. The policy also bans commemorative flags, such as those celebrating pride month and Juneteenth, from being displayed at public parks.
'Wilcox Park, that one that we can raise only has two flag thingys and it's hard to raise with a ladder. I think that to me sounds like an easy fix of we adjust the mechanisms that allow it to come down and we either add a third loop to add an additional flag or we make sure that the policy allows us to remove the state flag and the POW flag and replace it with a commemorative flag,' she said.
