Detroit community bans Pride flags on public property
After a meeting that lasted for many hours, the Detroit-area community Hamtramck, Michigan, has banned LGBTQ+ flags from publicly owned flagpoles.

"You guys are welcome," said council member Nayeem Choudhury of LGBTQ people. "[But] why do you have to have the flag shown on government property to be represented? You're already represented. We know who you are."

"We want to respect the religious rights of our citizens," Choudhury said, in reference to the fact that some members of Hamtramck's all-Muslim city council had said the rainbow flag goes against their faith. The council voted unanimously to display only five flags, including the American flag, the Michigan flag, and one that represents the native countries of immigrant residents.

Businesses and residents are unaffected by the decision and are free to display the Pride flag on their own property. Regardless, in protest, a woman at the meeting kissed another woman, and the Detroit City FC soccer team called the council's decision "inexcusable."

"Pride flags send a powerful message that all are welcome and that the community values diversity," the soccer team said on Twitter.

Starbucks workers left in the dark on Pride displays
Though Starbucks itself argues otherwise, Starbucks Workers United says many store managers in the United States have been suppressing Pride displays in stores. Some managers' reasons are supposedly safety concerns, given the backlash against Target and Bud Light when those brands openly supported the LGBTQ+ community this year.

"There has been no change to any policy on this matter and we continue to encourage our store leaders to celebrate with their communities, including for US Pride month in June," Starbucks said in a statement.

Union organizer and Starbucks supervisor Ian Miller said the company's tone has changed, since his own store manager said he'd need prior approval for Pride decorations, and that the company was going for more "uniformity" in stores.

The manager, Miller said, did eventually let employees put up small rainbow flags — but not on the company credit card, as had been allowed in the past. Miller called it "disrespectful and counterintuitive."

Miller's manager declined to comment when contacted by the Associated Press. Starbucks didn't respond to questions about the policies at Miller's store.