This year’s Pride Month was not the huge success that the media in this country expected or wanted it to be. As public opinion has shifted against the LGBTQ agenda, the rainbow tidal surge has been defeated in many ways. This year, fewer companies adopted rainbow logos. The backlash against Bud Light and Target is either an extension or the reason for corporate hesitancy. Gallup’s recent poll showed surprising growth in opposition towards trans athletes despite persistent press pushes for this agenda.
Community resistance has also been present. Parents in Maryland recently protested against an LGBTQ education curriculum, but the media barely covered it because of its predominantly Muslim population. In a similar vein, a city in Michigan has been criticized for reportedly banning Pride Flags in the city. The challenges that this presents to the media are leading them to contort their coverage.
In Hamtramck in Michigan, the City Council voted to approve a new resolution governing the display of flags on public properties. However, when CNN went to Michigan to investigate the alleged intolerance they found problems. First, there is the specific legislation. Reporters, Eli Masket & Michelle Watson had to clarify the text despite the headline that the city “Votes To Permanently Ban Pride Flags”.
A city in Michigan near Detroit has banned the display of Pride Flags on public land. This comes as communities around the United States celebrate Pride Month. Hamtramck city council members unanimously approved the controversial resolution Tuesday, restricting the city’s ability to fly any “religious or ethnic flags, racial or political group flags, or sexual orientation groups” on public property, according to the meeting minutes.
All banners that are not national or political in nature, including Pride flags and non-national banners, are prohibited. Only the United States flag or other nations that represent the residents of the deeply diverse community are allowed to be displayed. Another curious thing is found when reading their report. In this tale of social controversy and governance, we don’t see any mention of a political party. You can be sure that if Republicans were to be labeled as hateful or bigoted they would be in the lead.
Why the hesitation? Hamtramck was the first community to have its city government run entirely by Muslims elected. This historic result was celebrated when the results of the election were announced. Now, there are conflicts as people try to reconcile the two positions. The Guardian explained that there was “Liberal dismay as Muslim-led US city bans pride flags.”
Journalists have had to temper their claims about intolerance and racism in the past few years because of their unwavering support of Muslims. They risk becoming “Islamophobic” if they speak out too loudly in support of the LGBT community (Sorry CNN, you have your rules and all that). The reporters were forced to use others to condemn the measure. Locals provided quotes against the measure to protect CNN from intolerance.
One resident said, “Hamtramck’s attempt to equate the LGBTQ Pride Flag with hate symbols is now a local assault on our community.” Another resident asked, “Does Hamtramck want to join this trend of alienating and threatening members of the LGBTQ+ Community?”
The Guardian asked the former mayor to comment. Karen Majewski said, “We stood by you when you faced threats, but now, our rights are being threatened and you’re doing it.” Another citizen, who belongs to an anti-trans group, was quoted as saying that this ruling “is an erasure and attempt to push queer people into the closet.”
Melodramatics is a big part of this group. Hyperbole is used to describe the act of simply prohibiting a flag from being hung on public land as an attack, a warning, a punishment, or an erasure. A resident was photographed hanging the flag in their private business as a sign of defiance, which is totally acceptable. This is only for public spaces. There is no threat to anyone or erasure of any person.
It’s funny that, after years of threatening to label others negatively for their behavior, the media is now struggling to condemn an act when it’s enforced by a class of people who are protected. The press has been telling us for years that criticizing Muslims is intolerance. Now, their own standard creates a paradox.
