A Michigan city with an all-Muslim government has banned LGBTQ+ flags from public spaces after a bizarre hour-long meeting in which both sides expressed passion.
The Hamtramck City Council meeting took a turn when a woman with a clown nose gave a speech mocking the city council and its Muslim-majority population before kissing a woman standing next to her on Tuesday night.
“Sure, many Hamtramck residents have fled countries where being gay is a death sentence, but nothing says we have to make it ‘reassuring’ and ‘welcoming’ here,” the woman said Tuesday night.
“While we can no longer legally discriminate against LGBTQ people in the United States, the city of Hamtramck can say, ‘Ew, no, take pride elsewhere.'”
The meeting was so well attended that people listened from the hallways as council members said the Pride flag conflicted with the beliefs of some members of their faith.
A woman with a clown nose gave a speech during Hamtramck City Council’s public statement mocking the city council and its Muslim-majority population before making a speech during Tuesday night’s debate on banning Pride flags on public buildings Woman kissing who was standing next to her
Businesses and residents are not prohibited from flying a Pride flag on their own property.
“You are most welcome,” Councilor Nayeem Choudhury said. “(But) why does the flag have to be flown on government properties to be represented?” They are already represented. “We already know who you are.”
“We want to respect the religious rights of our citizens,” Choudhury said.
Hamtramck has a population of 27,000 and is an enclave surrounded by Detroit. According to the US Census Bureau, more than 40% of the residents were born in other countries and a significant proportion are of Yemeni or Bangladeshi descent.
Hamtramck became the first city in America with a majority Muslim population in 2015.
The two kissing women were followed by Dearborn activist Hassan Aoun, who passionately spoke out against the Pride flag on public land.
“I’m Lebanese and I support the American flag.” We’re not going to sit here and have you come and say, “Oh, it’s Pride Month.” Are you gay? No problem.’ Don’t sit here and throw it down the children’s throats, me or anyone’s throat.’
The council voted unanimously to display only five flags, including the American flag, the Michigan flag and one representing the immigrants’ home countries.
Mayor Amer Ghalib made the flag a campaign issue when then-Mayor Karen Majewski raised one on the city lot in 2021.
Mayor Amer Ghalib said the city will not fly flags unrelated to America or veterans’ causes
Some members of the All-Muslim Council said the Pride flag conflicted with the beliefs of some members of their faith. Businesses and residents are not prohibited from flying a Pride flag on their own property
The two kissing women were followed by Dearborn activist Hassan Aoun, who passionately spoke out against the Pride flag on public land
People stream into a hallway to listen to public comment ahead of a vote to ban the LGBTQ pride flag on government buildings and city lots, including other flags representing racial and political issues
“We serve all equally, without discrimination but without favoritism,” he said.
Ghalib told he was upset by what he said local residents and the media believed they were targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
“It is not aimed at any particular group, but neither does it allow preferential treatment for any group.” It affirms the neutrality of the city government and does not allow flags of religious, racial, ethnic, political or sexual orientation groups on public or city property.”
It’s disappointing that some media are trying to portray it as an attack on the LGBTQ community. I have many members of this group on my boards and commissions that I have appointed and we get along well. I will continue to serve everyone equally and treat everyone equally, but in this resolution we are closing the door on any other radical or racist group that would come and ask that their flag be flown on city lands.
Just last week, Ghalib slammed an unknown person for throwing a Pride flag in the trash after Majewski found it and posted it on Facebook.
“I condemn all criminal acts aimed at suppressing debate and freedom of expression, which, along with freedom of religion and freedom of the press, are the most important rights protected by our First Amendment.” Violence only breeds more violence, and here we come never close to the truth when other voices with which we disagree are silenced.
Ghalib also publicly criticized a person who hoisted a Nazi flag at his home in January.
“I don’t think that’s a reasonable argument. This (the flag) is something that reminds people who have lost loved ones of bad and painful memories,” he said. “We are for tolerance, acceptance and peace, but we cannot tolerate hateful behavior in our community.”
The woman, who ended her speech with a kiss, mocked the council, saying: “Sure, many Hamtramck residents have fled countries where homosexuality is a death sentence, but nothing says we make it ‘reassuring’ and ‘welcoming ‘ to have to do.”
Darren Shelton, Managing Director of the Hamtramck Planet Ant Theatre, came into work on his day off to hang this LGBTQ+ flag in the front of the theatre
Emelyn Rutowski, 27, left, and Alessandro Uribe-Rheinbolt, 24, both from Hamtramck, listen to the meeting in the hallway
Hamtramck City Hall will be one of the buildings where Pride flags are banned
Ghalib and the all-Muslim city council caused resentment in their first two years in office.
In January, the city council voted to allow religious animal sacrifices indoors, with Ghalib citing freedom of religion.
Two months later, the city passed a resolution in support of Palestine and against military aid to “all repressive governments.”
Hayley Cain said she chose to live in Hamtramck after moving from California because the community is known to be a diverse community.
“I wonder if that is so.” … The Pride flag represents making space for all humans on all spectrums, and that’s where we’re going as a human species,” Cain said. “You can’t prevent that.”
Dawud Walid, director of the Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights group, said Hamtramck’s strict flag policy does not discriminate against anyone.
“If there was one group that wasn’t given access to something unlike others, we would have a problem,” Walid said.
He said some Muslims who oppose an LGBTQ+ flag are no different from conservative members of other religions with similar views.
Just last week, Ghalib slammed an unidentified person for throwing a Pride flag in the trash after former Mayor Karen Majewski found it in the trash. Majewski made a Facebook post hoping that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s new LGBTQ+ task force would “check” itself with the new flag law
“Flags carry symbolism.” “These symbols carry social and political messages,” Walid said.
“It is clear that you are either ignorant, hateful or spiteful,” said a transgender spokesman.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation in March that enshrines LGBTQ protections in the state’s civil rights statute and permanently bans discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in the state.
When the bill was proposed, Majewski wrote on Facebook that she hopes Whitmer’s LGBTQ+ task force “will look into it and consider it when the state of Michigan makes decisions about grants and other funding.”
Detroit City FC, a professional football team that draws thousands of fans to Hamtramck for games, called the city council’s decision “inexcusable.”
“Pride flags send a strong message that all are welcome and that the community values diversity,” the team said on Twitter.
has reached out to Governor Whitmer for comment.