• The Trump administration removed the rainbow Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument.
• New York officials condemn the removal as an act targeting LGBTQ+ rights.
• Protests are planned in response to the flag's removal under the slogan "Hands off our flag."
• The National Park Service cites "longstanding policy" for the removal.
• The Stonewall monument is a vital symbol of the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the U.S.

The Trump administration has faced backlash following its decision to remove a large rainbow Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument in New York City, a site recognized as the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement. The National Park Service stated the flag was taken down to ensure adherence to "longstanding policy" regarding flag displays at national monuments, including a ban on flags other than the U.S. national banner and department colors, aside from specific exceptions, according to SCMP and India Times.

Local officials, including New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, have expressed outrage, labeling the removal an "act of erasure" aimed at the LGBTQ+ community. Mamdani emphasized that "no act of erasure will ever change, or silence, that history," in reference to the monument's significance following the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, which catalyzed the gay rights movement, according to India Times and Le Monde.

The National Park Service's directive, issued in January, has prompted local groups to plan protests under the slogan "Hands off our flag" to demonstrate against what they see as an anti-LGBTQ+ policy, as reported by Reuters. Protesters are determined to raise another Pride flag at the monument soon, asserting that such actions reflect the rebellious spirit of the Stonewall uprising.

Critics argue that the removal is indicative of broader efforts by the Trump administration to curtail LGBTQ+ rights. Under Trump's policies, references to transgender individuals have been systematically removed from government platforms, including the monument's official website, which has seen changes in terminology from "LGBT" to "LGB," as noted by Reuters and Le Monde.