The Trump administration has made yet another move in its ongoing efforts to suppress diversity and inclusion in the United States. This time, they have targeted the historic Stonewall National Monument in New York City, removing a large Pride flag that has long been a symbol of the LGBTQ+ community's fight for equality.
On February 10th, Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal shared on social media that the Pride flag had been taken down over the weekend of February 7th. This comes after a recent memo from the Interior Department, which limits the types of flags that can be displayed at National Park Service sites. According to The Guardian, the only flags allowed now are those representing the United States, government agencies, and prisoners of war/missing in action. There are a few exceptions for flags with significant historical value.
Despite this setback, Hoylman-Sigal remains determined and defiant, stating, "They cannot erase our history. Our Pride flag will be raised again. Stay tuned." The Stonewall National Monument was designated by former President Barack Obama in 2016 as a tribute to the 1969 Stonewall uprising, a pivotal event in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. The six days of protests that followed a police raid on the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village are credited with sparking the modern fight for equality. The monument has become a powerful symbol of Pride for the community.
However, as the Trump administration continues to roll back diversity initiatives and reshape historical displays in national parks, the Pride flag was removed from the monument. The memo from the Interior Department states that flagpoles are not meant to be used for public expression and that any non-agency flags must align with the government's official stance.
This is not the first time the Trump administration has shown hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community at the Stonewall National Monument. Last year, the National Park Service removed references to transgender and queer people from the monument's webpage, causing outrage among local leaders. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who tweeted his support for the monument, stated, "New York is the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, and no act of erasure will ever change, or silence, that history."
City officials, including New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and the co-chairs of the council's LGBTQ+ caucus, have condemned the removal of the Pride flag and are urging the National Park Service to restore it. Even Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has spoken out against the decision, stating, "If there's one thing I know about this latest attempt to rewrite history, stoke division and discrimination, and erase our community pride, it's this: that flag will return. New Yorkers will see to it."
Despite these challenges, the LGBTQ+ community remains resilient and determined to stand up for their rights and their history. As the fight for equality continues, the iconic Pride flag will likely fly once again at the Stonewall National Monument, proudly representing the community's ongoing struggle and perseverance.
