All all-Muslim city council members in Michigan have voted to ban all LGBTQ+ Pride flags from all city properties.
According to Click on Detroit, Hamtramck City Council members voted unanimously on a resolution that bars flags of all political, religious, ethnic and racial groups from being flown on city property. The resolution provides that only the American —along with state and city flags, other national flags and the Prisoner of War flag— is allowed to fly on city properties.
Hamtramck Mayor Pro-Tem, Muhammad Hassan, proposed the resolution. After months-long intense debate and three hours of public comments on Tuesday, the city passed the resolution.
ALERT: The city of Hamtramck, Michigan, has just banned the display of LGBTQ & racist/political flags from city property. City Council voted unanimously to approve resolution after 3 hours of public comments. The all-Muslim council said their religious rights should be respected.
— Niraj Warikoo (@nwarikoo) June 14, 2023
City Councilman Nayeem Choudhury maintained that while the city will not discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community, the community must also respect the religious liberty of the city’s Muslim community.
“We want to respect the religious rights of our citizens,” Choudhury said. “You guys (LGBTQ+ community) are welcome. … (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. … By making this about bigotry … it’s making it like you want to hate us.”
Hassan and other proponents of the resolution maintained that the LGBTQ+ community and other political groups are welcome in the city.
One immigrant from Yemen, who spoke during the three-hour debate, argued that it is “shameful and embarrassing” to have any other flags on public buildings. The man noted that American soldiers have died fighting in several wars under the American flag.
“Those soldiers fought under the American flag and no other,” the man said. It’s shameful and embarrassing to have any other flag on public buildings. You have the freedom to display whatever you wish in your home or your private businesses. We respect all nations, cultures, and their flags, but we only salute the American flag.”
According to the Detroit Free Press, Hamtramck has the highest percentage of immigrants among Michigan cities. The city is also the only city in the country with an all-Muslim city council and mayor.
