U.S. Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI) Presents Pride Flag to Local LGBTQI+ Businessowner Victim of Repeated Pride Flag Theft

(Birmingham, MI) – On Tuesday, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) presented local businessowner James Cristbrook of Shain Park Realtors with a new Pride flag to replace the Pride flag insignia that had been stolen from his business’s window twice during Pride month. Rep. Stevens called for the passage of the Equality Act, which would expand civil rights law to protect LGBTQI+ individuals.

“Ending discrimination, starts with calling out acts of bigotry,” said Rep. Stevens. “LGBTQI+ people are a part of all our communities – they own businesses, serve as police officers and firefighters, and so much more. Having a local business leader like James, stand up and say, enough is enough is an important part of changing people’s hearts and minds. As a Member of Congress, my job is to change the law, and I’m going to keep fighting to do that and pass the Equality Act so that the rights of LGBTQI+ people are protected as the law of the land.”

“We’re so honored and pleased to have one of the leaders in our federal government [here] who has supported the Equality Act,” said Mr. Cristbrook. “We love Birmingham, this is our hometown, born and bred here, and we’ve always found it a welcoming community. It wasn’t until this June that we realized that there are some folks in our community that don’t appreciate the equality, love, and the peace that should be for everybody here… It really speaks volumes about where we are right now in our in our country, and I’m so grateful to people like the Congresswoman who are supporting us and brought us a beautiful new flag.”

Local police are investigating the theft of the Pride flags at Mr. Cristbrook’s business.

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