Removal of Pride Flag at Stonewall National Monument
The National Park Service (NPS) has taken down the large rainbow pride flag from Stonewall National Monument, a significant site in the LGBTQ rights movement, according to several reports. This location was designated as a national monument by former President Barack Obama in June 2016 to honor the Stonewall Rebellion, which began on June 28, 1969, and is recognized as pivotal in the broader movement for LGBTQ equality.
The NPS Office of Public Affairs responded to inquiries by stating that long-standing policies regarding flag displays on federal land were being applied consistently across all NPS-managed sites. Their statement outlined that only the U.S. flag and other officially authorized flags would be flown on NPS flagpoles, with some limited exceptions. They emphasized that Stonewall National Monument would continue to interpret and preserve the historical significance of the site through exhibits and programs.
The Department of the Interior has not commented on this development.
Democratic Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal mentioned on social media that the pride flag had been removed following a federal order from January. He strongly criticized the move, stating that the Trump administration cannot erase the history of LGBTQ individuals.
Similarly, Democratic New York City Council President Julie Menin expressed her disapproval, calling Stonewall a sacred site and condemning the flag’s removal as a deliberate attempt to erase its history. She described the act as an attack on LGBTQ+ residents of New York, asserting that this history will not be altered and rights will not be diminished.
Democratic New York State Senator Eric Bottcher labeled the removal as a “shameful attempt to rewrite history” and reiterated that Stonewall is intertwined with the symbolism that represents the community’s struggle for rights. Both he and Hoylman-Sigal, who are openly gay, are representatives from a political landscape that has seen shifts in support for LGBTQ causes, including some major companies pulling back from participating in pride events across the country in 2025.
