Michigan Couple Fights for Free Speech Rights After Anti-Trump, Pro-Trans Signs Spark Controversy
Citing property code, local authorities challenge vocal LGBTQ+ allies in Grosse Pointe
Facing potential legal penalties for exercising their First Amendment rights, Grosse Pointe Farms activists Chrisoula Pitses and Ian Seaman stand defiant as local authorities target their provocative lawn signs challenging transphobia and Trump rhetoric.
The couple's conflict with local authorities began in early March. According to Ian Seaman's account as told to Pride Source, on March 10, while standing with signs at a four-way stop, he encountered a Grosse Pointe Farms police officer who lives in Grosse Pointe Woods. After a brief exchange about drivers rolling through the stop sign, Seaman claims the officer became hostile, saying "Fuck you, I'll get Woods PD out here," before speeding off and giving him the middle finger. Later that day, police arrived and instructed Seaman to move his signs to private property, which he did.
What started as handwritten cardboard signs on their lawn in Grosse Pointe Farms — including one that posed a mocking question: "IS THE 'TRANS AGENDA' IN THE ROOM WITH US RIGHT NOW?" — quickly escalated into a series of confrontations with local officials.
By March 11-12, the displays expanded to include signs about controversial religious figures. One sign juxtaposed Catholic clergy with drag performers, with text reading "One group playing dress up has definitely hurt children."
During this period, the couple had multiple interactions with police officers regarding sign placement, first on public easements, then on trees and finally on their private property and vehicle. Seaman told Pride Source that on March 12, three police officers came to their front door and allegedly used profanity while demanding they remove signs stapled to trees on the easement. When Pitses identified herself as an attorney, the officers still refused to leave until the signs were removed.
On March 18, the couple received an official notice regarding their signs, which appeared to be backdated to their first interaction with authorities on March 10. The next day, March 19, Pitses and Seaman received an ordinance violation ticket from the Grosse Pointe Woods Department of Public Safety. Officials cited both the size of their lawn signs and their content as problematic, raising First Amendment questions since sign permits typically regulate only physical characteristics, not content.
Among their various displays was a sign challenging conservative hypocrisy by pointing out that "truck nuts" have faced minimal backlash despite their explicit nature, while discussions of transgender rights are deemed "inappropriate."
In a video recorded by Seaman, Grosse Pointe Police stated that the signs were inappropriate because their home is close to a school and families live nearby. They deemed the signs vulgar and demanded their removal.
According to Section 7.04 of the Grosse Pointe City Zoning Ordinance, yard signs must not exceed a combined 15 square feet and must be under 4 feet in height. The ordinance makes no explicit mention of content restrictions. Pitses and Seaman maintain their signs complied with the size requirements, though city officials indicated on their notice that residential signs are limited to 6 square feet.
When confronted about the signs, the couple moved them to their van. The city inspector, the couple reports, threatened to call law enforcement if the vehicle was transferred to the street. The couple expanded their protest by decorating the vehicle with orange lettering declaring "GPPD HATES FREE SPEECH" and "CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE IS AMERICAN."
"It's American. It's part of our culture, every great advancement of freedoms has been fought for through civil disobedience, despite the power of the government being derived from the consent of the people," Seaman told Pride Source.
The battle over free expression — particularly around LGBTQ+ rights — has intensified across Michigan communities. Last year in Hamtramck, the city council removed two Human Relations Commission members for flying a Pride flag on city property, despite Attorney General Dana Nessel joining protests against the ban.
This isn't Grosse Pointe's first sign controversy. In 2020, the GPPD asked attorney and current mayoral candidate Todd Perkins to remove his Black Lives Matter sign, and in 2004, the Michigan ACLU sued the city for an unconstitutional sign ordinance after Mary Adzigian received a notice for her John Kerry sign while neighbors' Bush signs remained.
"This demonstration has exposed double standards," Seaman said. "If there were a Venn diagram of people who support curtailing my right to speak freely and people who don't believe in any form of gun control, we would be looking at an individual circle."
The situation could be seen as a microcosm of the rift that has developed in the country over the last decade, with attempts to enforce a culture of silence and protest against the right. "I don't know that it will be transformational in terms of our legal landscape, as this is primarily an example of unelected bureaucrats using the courts to harass normal citizens for having a contrarian opinion," Seaman said about the case that has now entered the court of public opinion.
A Facebook post about the lawn signs sparked community debate about fair application of the First Amendment. The comment section was filled with varying opinions including questioning others as to why they were offended by the content. It included direct quotes from President Trump and implied that Seaman wants an altercation. Some members supported the signs and found them essential to understanding the current administration. Seaman stated he wasn't trying to cause harm but hopes this will highlight the issue of silencing citizens.
Pitses and Seaman were to appear in court on March 27, but the date was adjourned. The city attorney requested that the adjournment be conditional upon Seaman complying with the citation, but Judge Theodore Metry denied this request — suggesting the court isn't automatically accepting the city's interpretation of its ordinance.
The pair will now appear in court at 9 a.m. April 9, following the city council meeting at 7 p.m. April 7.
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