• The Trump administration removed a large Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument in NYC.
• This act has sparked widespread outrage among officials and activists.
• Protests are scheduled as community leaders plan to raise another Pride flag.

The recent removal of a large rainbow Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument, which is recognized as the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement in New York City, has ignited significant controversy and outrage. This decision follows a memo issued by the National Park Service, which governs U.S. national monuments, enforcing restrictions on flying flags other than the U.S. flag and limited exceptions. New York officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, have decried this action as an “act of erasure” aimed at limiting LGBTQ+ rights, particularly under the policies of former President Donald Trump's administration, which have been criticized for curbing such rights.

Protests have been organized in response, with events planned to symbolize the community's resistance against this removal. Mayor Mamdani advocated for the importance of preserving the history of LGBTQ+ rights, stating that "no act of erasure will ever change, or silence, that history." Local leaders have expressed intentions to replace the flag and demonstrate community solidarity against this perceived attack on their rights. The National Park Service has yet to comment publicly about the potential for new flags to be raised at the monument.

The Stonewall National Monument, designated in 2016, commemorates the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, which was a pivotal moment for the LGBTQ+ rights movement following police raids on gay bars. Activists have noted that the removal of the Pride flag is consistent with the Trump administration's attempts to limit recognition and rights of transgender and non-binary individuals, as evidenced by previous actions to scrub LGBTQ+ references from federal resources. This controversial decision has not only incited protests but also reignited a broader discussion about LGBTQ+ rights and representation.