Detroit-area city bans LGBTQ+ pride flags on public property
Emelyn Rutowski, 27, left, and Alessandro Uribe-Rheinbolt, 24, both of Hamtramck listen to the meeting in the hallway during the city council meeting at City Hall in Hamtramck, Mich., Tuesday, June 13, 2023. The big turnout by the public is for public comment on the flag neutrality law being considered by the city council. Credit: AP/Robin Buckson
HAMTRAMCK, Mich. — A Detroit-area community has banned LGBTQ+ flags from publicly owned flagpoles after a tense hourslong meeting that raised questions about discrimination, religion and the city's reputation for welcoming newcomers.
In protest, a woman speaking during the public comment portion of the Hamtramck City Council meeting kissed a woman standing next to her Tuesday night.
“You guys are welcome," council member Nayeem Choudhury said. “(But) why do you have to have the flag shown on government property to be represented? You’re already represented. We already know who you are.”
Some members of the all-Muslim council said the pride flag clashes with the beliefs of some members of their faith. Businesses and residents aren’t prohibited from displaying a pride flag on their own property.
“We want to respect the religious rights of our citizens,” Choudhury said.
Hamtramck, population 27,000, is an enclave surrounded by Detroit. More than 40% of residents were born in other countries, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and a significant share are of Yemeni or Bangladeshi descent.
The council voted unanimously to display only five flags, including the American flag, the Michigan flag and one that represents the native countries of immigrant residents.
Planet Ant Theatre executive director Darren Shelton came to work on his day off so that he could hang this LGBTQ+ flag on the front of the theatre in Hamtramck, Mich., Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Credit: AP/Robin Buckson
Mayor Amer Ghalib made the flag a campaign issue when then-Mayor Karen Majewski flew one on city property in 2021.
“We serve everybody equally with no discrimination but without favoritism,” he said.
Hayley Cain said she chose to live in Hamtramck after moving from California because it was known as a diverse community.
"I’m questioning whether it is. ... The pride flag represents making space for all humans on all the spectrums, and this is where we’re going as a human species,” Cain said. “You can’t stop that.”
People who could not get into the Hamtramck city council chambers try to listen via YouTube or on the monitor in the hallway during the city council meeting at City Hall in Hamtramck, Mich., Tuesday, June 13, 2023. The big turnout by the public is for public comment on the flag neutrality law being considered by the city council. Credit: AP/Robin Buckson
Dawud Walid, director of the Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights advocacy group, said Hamtramck's strict flag policy doesn't discriminate against anyone.
“If there was one group that was not being granted access to something while others were then we would have a problem,” Walid said.
He said some Muslims who oppose an LGBTQ+ flag are no different than conservative members of other religions with similar views.
“Flags carry symbolism. Those symbols carry social and political messages,” Walid said.
Detroit City FC, a professional soccer team that draws thousands of fans to games in Hamtramck, called the council's decision “inexcusable.”
“Pride flags send a powerful message that all are welcome and that the community values diversity,” the team said on Twitter.
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