Trump admin removes rainbow flag from Stonewall, the birthplace of US gay rights movement

The Trump administration removed a large Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument in New York City, the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement. The National Park Service, which oversees the monument, stated the removal was to ensure consistent application of a "long-standing policy" across its sites. This policy, issued in 2023, restricts flags flown on government-managed flagpoles to those expressing official federal sentiments or providing historical context. New York officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, have criticized the removal as an "act of erasure" and an effort to limit LGBTQ+ rights. Some officials plan to raise another Pride flag at the monument.

The Trump administration removed a Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument in New York City in early February, citing a recent Interior Department memo. The memo, issued January 21st, restricts flag displays on National Park Service sites to U.S., agency, and POW/MIA flags, with limited exceptions. The Interior Department stated the policy clarifies existing guidelines and that the monument will continue to interpret the site's history. The removal sparked criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates and New York politicians, including Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and New York City Council members, who condemned the decision and urged the flag's reinstatement. Stonewall is a national monument commemorating the 1969 Stonewall riots, a pivotal event in the LGBTQ+ rights movement.