Hamtramck schools to create new review process after complaints about LGBTQ books

Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press
·4 min read
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Hamtramck Public Schools will establish a new process that includes parents to review books for students after some had raised concerns about books with LGBTQ themes they believe are too sexually explicit for children.

"We will be introducing a new book review process that will include a committee consisting of parents, educators and administrators," the district said in a statement provided Friday by Hamtramck Schools Interim Superintendent and English Language Development director Nabil Nagi. "The committee’s role will not be to limit student access to books, but to ensure that books available to our students are appropriate based on education guidelines."

Nagi added in a letter that some of the claims made by protesters are inaccurate.

At a packed board meeting last Wednesday, speakers railed against the books and the district. The scene and messages were similar to board meetings and protests held in recent months in Dearborn. Attendees and protesters at the Hamtramck meeting included Republicans and others who have been leading protests in Dearborn: Hassan Aoun, Stephanie Butler, and Mike Hacham. Similar protests have taken place across Michigan this year.

LGBTQ Pride flag seen on Joseph Campau Avenue near Botsford Street, on August 4, 2022. The flag was recently raised, stirring controversy in the city. The avenue has other flags of various nations.
LGBTQ Pride flag seen on Joseph Campau Avenue near Botsford Street, on August 4, 2022. The flag was recently raised, stirring controversy in the city. The avenue has other flags of various nations.

The protesters said the LGBTQ books are inappropriate for Hamtramck because of its sizable immigrant and Muslim population. Hamtramck has the highest percentage of residents who are immigrants among cities in Michigan, many of whom Muslim.

At the Hamtramck meeting, Aoun yelled at school officials, approaching the table where they sat and dropped a book he objected to, telling one of them to read it.

"You call yourself a Muslim?" Aoun said to a school official. "You ain't no Muslim man."

More:Book bans spreading across Michigan: What's driving them

More:LGBTQ and faith communities struggle for unity in Dearborn, Hamtramck

The day after the board meeting, Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib issued a statement on Facebook expressing support for parents who are concerned about the books, writing: "Dear Hamtramck parents: We heard you, As a parent, I personally share the same concerns with you about the kind, quality and and future of education for our kids. We trust that you and the board of education will solve the pressing books issue in the best interest of our kids and our community as a whole. ... We will do everything we can to help you achieve that goal."

The district has been pushing back on their allegations, saying that inaccurate information on the issue has been circulating online. In a letter dated Nov. 4 sent to parents, Nagi wrote: "Today we were made aware of posts on social media indicating the District has approved certain materials for our students that contain inappropriate language, images, and concepts that are inappropriate for our students."

More:GOP made gains in east Dearborn after protests over LGBTQ books

Two of the books the protesters object to include "Flamer" by Mike Curato and "All Boys Aren't Blue" by George Johnson.

But the district's "investigation has revealed that none of the material these posts have complained about and allege have been made available to our students have in fact been reviewed or approved," Nagi said in his letter. "While we can understand community concern ... we should all be disappointed when unfounded accusations and allegations are made which basic inquiry and research could have prevented."

Nagi told the Free Press that "there appears to be a misunderstanding about what materials are in our curriculum and available to students in our libraries. I believe we have made some progress in clearing that up, but we will work further with our parents to try and ensure there isn’t any confusion."

The statement added that the district takes "pride in partnering with parents and guardians to provide students with a safe and healthy learning environment. Through a comprehensive review process, following state and federal guidelines, all materials used for the instruction of our students are reviewed following state and federal education guidelines."

But because "we value the partnership we have developed with our parents and the community," the district will have a new review process, the district said.

Russ Gordon has been taking some flak for hanging an LGBTQ pride flag along Jos Campau in Hamtramck. Gordon claims he was asked to do it by the previous city administration. We catch up with him and the flag Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022
Russ Gordon has been taking some flak for hanging an LGBTQ pride flag along Jos Campau in Hamtramck. Gordon claims he was asked to do it by the previous city administration. We catch up with him and the flag Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022

The debate over the books is the latest controversy in Hamtramck regarding LGBTQ issues. Last year, the previous mayor, Karen Majewski, raised a LGBTQ Pride flag outside City Hall, which upset some in the city. Ghalib ran for mayor on a platform that included opposition to the raising of the Pride flag on city property.

In July, the chair of Hamtramck's Human Relations Commission, Russ Gordon, raised an LGBTQ Pride flag on city property on Joseph Campau Avenue, drawing criticism and renewing the debate. Some anti-gay graffiti was found in a park outside City Hall in September.

Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or Twitter @nwarikoo.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Hamtramck schools add review process after concern over LGBTQ books