Amer Ghalib has built his mayoral administration in Hamtramck, Michigan, around a culture war that targets LGBTQ+ people, erodes inclusive governance, and emboldens extremists.
Elected as the country’s first Yemeni-American mayor, Ghalib positioned himself as a unifier. Instead, he made national headlines by banning Pride flags on city property, aligning himself with far-right figures, and removing public officials who supported LGBTQ+ residents. His administration has punished dissent, fueled division—and now, despite this record, Ghalib is even being considered for a U.S. ambassadorship.
He’s also running for re-election and what began as a promise to represent all Hamtramck residents has become an openly discriminatory mayoralty that prioritizes political grievance over civil rights. Agenda PAC is watching—and organizing to make sure he’s held accountable.
Key Vulnerabilities
Federal lawsuit: Hamtramck’s Pride flag ban is the subject of a federal free speech and equal protection challenge, with civil rights groups arguing it amounts to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination. The legal battle is already drawing national attention and could pose political and financial liability to the city.
Contradiction and hypocrisy: Ghalib aligns with Trump and Flynn—figures known for Islamophobic rhetoric and policies—while citing faith to justify anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination. Opponents have pointed to this as a betrayal of the very communities Ghalib claims to represent.
Divisiveness: He has fractured Hamtramck’s famously diverse community and alienated Democratic allies. Civic leaders, LGBTQ+ residents, and former elected officials have condemned his administration for fostering fear and marginalization.
National scrutiny: Ghalib’s stances have drawn widespread condemnation from civil rights groups and state officials, including Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel, who called the Pride flag ban a disgrace and an act of exclusion.
Amer Ghalib has turned his mayoral platform into a national symbol of anti-LGBTQ+ backlash—and now he wants another term. Once elected as a historic first, he quickly abandoned promises of unity in favor of exclusion and extremism. Ghalib isn’t just governing—he’s escalating a culture war.
He has:
Banned Pride flags on city property and removed officials who supported LGBTQ+ residents.
Used inflammatory rhetoric, referring to queer communities as a “militia” and mocking civil rights protections.
Drawn national scrutiny, not just for his re-election campaign, but also for being floated as a potential U.S. ambassador.
