June 15th 2023.
Hamtramck City, located in the Detroit area, has taken a stance on the LGBTQ+ community. In a recent meeting, the city council passed a resolution banning people from flying pride flags on public poles. Despite the resolution, Council member Nayeem Choudhury said the community welcomes people who identify as LGBTQ+, per PBS News Hour. She rebutted, “You’re already represented. We already know who you are. Why do you have to have the flag shown on government property to be represented?”
The Mayor of Hamtramck City, Amer Ghalib, who is Muslim, also commented on the resolution. He said, “We serve everybody equally with no discrimination but without favoritism,” per The Hill. Furthermore, Mayor Ghalib commented during the meeting that half of his boards and commissions are either LGBTQ or supporters for LGBTQ, reported by Detroit Free Press. He also said he “never fired anybody who belongs to the LGBTQ.”
The resolution was introduced by Councilman Mohammed Hassan, who explained its purpose is to “maintain and confirm the neutrality of the city of Hamtramck towards its residents.” He said, “Please don’t threaten us… I’m the elected official… I’m working for the people, what the majority of the people like,” reported by The Hill.
Hamtramck City has a population of about 25,000, with nearly 50% of its residents being Muslim, and 40% of them being immigrants, making it the largest immigrant population compared to nearby cities, per Detroit Free Press.
Michigan’s neighboring state, Illinois, has also made legislative changes for the LGBTQ+ community. BLACK ENTERPRISE reported Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a law that made the state the first to legislate against the banning of LGBTQ+ books in public libraries. The law will be effective January 1, 2024.
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