Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib fires back at politicians criticizing city's LGBTQ flag ban

Facing criticism from some elected officials in metro Detroit, Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib is defending a resolution he supported that banned the display of LGBTQ+ and political flags from city property.

The six-member Hamtramck City Council voted unanimously last Tuesday to approve the resolution that prohibits the flying on government property flags symbolizing sexual orientation, race, religion and politics. The move was criticized by a range of elected officials in Michigan, including state Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, whose district includes Hamtramck, U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Detroit, whose district includes Hamtramck, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Oakland County Executive David Coulter and U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, among others.

"For those politicians who don’t understand the situation in Hamtramck but they released statements to criticize us for passing" the resolution, Ghalib said in a statement released Saturday afternoon, "you do not know our city more than we do, and you will not know the consequences of opening the door for every group to fly their flag on city properties. Our residents are all equally important to us, and we will continue to serve them equally without discrimination, favoritism or preferential treatment to any group. The city government will stay NEUTRAL and IMPARTIAL toward its residents."

Chang appeared to be the first elected official in metro Detroit to release a statement, saying in a news release Wednesday morning that the vote in Hamtramck was unfortunate.

“To Hamtramck LGBTQ+ community members and their families — please know that you have many allies throughout the city and state, and that includes me as your state senator," Chang said. "You are loved, you are welcome, and you are valued. Hamtramck has had a long history of being a place of hope and opportunity for people of all backgrounds, including those who have come to our nation fleeing war and poverty."

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Thanedar did not criticize Hamtramck's council, but commented via Twitter on Wednesday: "Standing with Hamtramck & MI-13's LGBTQ+ community as your Congressman. Committed to raising your voices & championing your rights. Together, let's foster unity and inclusivity."

Duggan on Thursday released an emailed statement that said it was "in response to Hamtramck Pride Flag ban."

Duggan said "the city of Detroit proudly raises our Pride Flag at the start of every Pride Month and allows it to fly throughout the year to show our unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community and the diversity within. It's the role of city officials to ensure everyone feels welcome in their community, and everyone is welcome here in Detroit."

State House Majority Floor Leader Abraham Aiyash, D-Hamtramck, whose district includes Hamtramck, has not commented publicly about the resolution. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also not commented specifically on Hamtramck's vote, but has often expressed support in general this month for the LGBTQ+ community.

Ghalib and others on the City Council have non-partisan positions, but attended last month an Eid event at the White House with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The councilman who introduced the flag resolution, Mayor Pro Tem Mohammed Hassan, has previously run as a Democrat for Wayne County Commissioner and State House representative.

Reported first by the Free Press, Hamtramck's decision to ban certain flags has drawn national and international attention, prompting several media outlets such as CNN to report on it and sparking extensive discussion on social media. The resolution says "the government of the City of Hamtramck does not allow any religious, ethnic, racial, political, or sexual orientation group flags to be flown on the City’s public properties, and that only, the American flag, the flag of the State of Michigan, the Hamtramck Flag, the Prisoner of War flag and the nations’ flags that represent the international character of our City shall be flown."

Opponents of the move said they plan to hold a protest on Saturday, June 24, at Hamtramck City Hall. Tlaib on Friday criticized the Hamtramck City Council.

"I can't imagine how it feels for our LGBTQ+ neighbors in Hamtramck to watch their own elected reps decide their existence doesn't matter," Tlaib said. "This is painful to see in a city that has always fought for equal justice for all. This action divides our communities."

While some elected officials have criticized the council, it has received support from some religious leaders in Hamtramck and Michigan. Dawud Walid, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Michigan, said the resolution does not discriminate against anyone, the Associated Press reported.

The debate over the flying of the LGBTQ+ Pride flag started in 2021, when then Mayor Karen Majewski flew the flag outside City Hall after a close vote on City Council approving it. Majewski cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of it, which drew outrage from the Muslim community and Ghalib, who made opposition to the flag part of his mayoral campaign platform.

Ghalib defeated Majewski and became mayor, but last year, Hamtramck Human Relations Commission Russ Gordon put up a LGBTQ+ flag on a city sidewalk, drawing criticism from Ghalib and prompting the council to draft a resolution that would block Gordon and others from putting up the flag. Some Muslims said the flag contradicts their faith; all of Hamtramck's City Council members and the mayor are Muslim. Gordon told the Free Press before the vote he had intended to raise the flag again next month, but may be unable to do so with passage of the resolution.

Contact Niraj Warikoo: [email protected], Facebook.com/nwarikoo, Twitter @nwarikoo.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Hamtramck mayor defends flag policy after criticism from politicians