Trump Administration Reverses Decision on Pride Flag at Stonewall Monument
The Trump administration has agreed to resume flying a rainbow Pride flag on a federal flagpole at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City, marking a significant reversal just two months after removing the banner from the first national monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ history. This decision was revealed in court papers as the government settled a lawsuit filed by advocacy and historic preservation groups seeking to block the February 9 removal, with a judge approving the deal.
Legal Settlement and Flag Arrangements
In a joint court filing, lawyers for the government and the groups stated that the Interior Department and National Park Service "have confirmed their intention to maintain a Pride flag at Stonewall." Under the agreement, the park service will hang three flags on its flagpole at the monument within a week. The Pride flag will be positioned below the U.S. flag, in accordance with U.S. flag code, and above the park service flag, with each measuring 3 feet by 5 feet (0.9 meters by 1.5 meters). The flag will not be removed except for "maintenance or other practical purposes."
The Stonewall site also features a large Pride flag on a city-controlled flagpole and smaller flags on a fence surrounding the monument, located across from the Stonewall Inn, where a 1969 police raid sparked an uprising that catalyzed the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. These flags were not removed during the controversy.
Reactions from Officials and Activists
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, a Democrat and the first openly gay person elected to his job, celebrated the decision on social media, stating, "We fought the Trump administration and won." He added, "We as an LGBTQ community celebrate the legal climb-down by the gutless Trump Administration on their contemptuous attempt to erase queer people from American history at Stonewall." Mayor Zohran Mamdani, also a Democrat, called the reversal "a victory for the LGBTQ+ community and for our entire city" and "a reminder that New Yorkers won’t let our history be rewritten."
The Gilbert Baker Foundation, which honors the Pride flag creator and was among the organizations that sued over the removal, expressed satisfaction. Foundation President Charley Beal said, "Stonewall is sacred ground in the fight for LGBTQ+ liberation, and this resolution helps ensure that the Rainbow Flag will continue to fly there, where it belongs."
Background and Controversy
The Pride flag had become a flashpoint in debates over Republican President Donald Trump's approach to Stonewall and other historical properties. After years of activism, the flag was formally installed in 2022 during Democrat Joe Biden's tenure, with park service officials calling it a sign of commitment to "telling the complex and diverse histories of all Americans." When removed in February, the park service cited compliance with federal guidance on flag displays, referencing a January 21 memo that largely restricted displays to U.S., Interior Department, and POW/MIA flags, with exemptions for providing "historical context."
Despite the park service's insistence that the monument "remains committed to preserving and interpreting the history and significance of this site" through exhibits and programs, LGBTQ+ activists viewed the flag's removal as a targeted affront meant to diminish a site central to their fight for rights and visibility.
Ongoing Concerns and Broader Context
Activists Michael Petrelis and Steven Love Menendez, who campaigned for the Pride flag's display, expressed pleasure with the agreement but dismay that other symbols, such as the more inclusive Progress Pride flag, were excluded. Menendez said, "I look forward to the day when the flag display can be restored to its original intent that allows all iterations of LGBTQ+ flags to fly. Until then at least we have the original rainbow flag flying to serve as a beacon of light."
Democratic President Barack Obama created the Stonewall monument in 2016. Since Trump returned to office last year, his administration has targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, with many references to transgender people removed from the monument's website and materials. The administration has also scrutinized national parks, museums, and landmarks, aiming to alter materials deemed "divisive or partisan" or "inappropriately disparage Americans."
