A federal judge ruled that a Michigan city’s ban on LGBTQ+ flags from public flagpoles does not violate the Constitution.
U.S. District Judge David Lawson dismissed the lawsuit against Hamtramck on Monday, upholding the city’s restrictive flag policy that has drawn national attention.
The Detroit-area city enacted the controversial policy two years ago when the city council voted to limit flag displays on publicly owned flagpoles to just five specific types.
The approved flags include the American flag, the Michigan state flag and flags that “represent the international character” of the city’s diverse immigrant population.
Hamtramck gained recognition for its welcoming stance toward immigrants, with the policy reflecting this commitment to international representation.
The legal dispute arose after the city flew a pride flag during June 2021 and June 2022, before the policy took effect.
The policy change occurred when members of the all-Muslim city council expressed concerns that the pride flag conflicted with the religious beliefs of some community members.
Critics argued that Hamtramck’s new flag restrictions violated constitutional free speech protections and discriminated against LGBTQ+ individuals. However, the Associated Press reported that Judge Lawson determined that the city’s approach was constitutionally sound because it applies equally to all