The Trump administration agreed Monday to keep flying the Pride flag at Stonewall National Monument, settling a lawsuit brought by LGBTQ+ and historic preservation groups after the banner was taken down in February.
A federal judge must still approve the agreement. Court documents confirmed that the Interior Department and National Park Service intend to maintain the flag at the site. It will not come down except for maintenance or other practical reasons.
Within one week of approval, the Park Service will install three flags on the monument’s flagpole. Each will measure three feet by five feet. The Pride flag will fly between the U.S. flag and the Park Service flag.
Installed in 2022, Removed in February
The queer community has been pushing back for years to have the flag flown daily at the park. Biden formally installed it in 2022. Officials said at the time the display reflected the government’s commitment to preserving the histories of all Americans.
The Park Service pulled the flag back in February. They said a Jan. 21 internal memo limiting displays to the U.S., Department of the Interior and POW/MIA flags, with some exemptions for historical context.
People weren’t buying it and said the removal was targeted move to diminish the site. Elected officials and advocates showed up with another flag and raised it alongside the U.S. flag the Park Service had installed.
About the Monument
President Barack Obama established the Stonewall monument in 2016. It centers on a small park facing the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village — the bar where a 1969 police raid touched off an uprising that helped define the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has moved to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion programs and protections for transgender people. References to transgender people were removed from the monument’s website and written materials.
His administration has also directed national parks, museums and landmarks to remove content it describes as divisive or as disparaging Americans.
While the policy may only be for the American Flag to fly at National Monuments, I bet the Texas flag waves over the Alamo. The Rainbow Flag deserves a space at the Stonewall Inn.
It was also good to hear that homophobic Trump/Vance ally, Victor Orban lost in Hungary. It was a good day to be gay.
It’s a national park. Only the American flag is allowed. Having this flag there just creates unnecessary resentment. Doesn’t help any cause.
Oh there you are!! lol. I wondered if you passed into obscurity, but you’re still here posting drivel.
The removal was not to diminish the site… At federal sites run by the National Park Service, the default policy has long been: Only official flags are flown on government-controlled flagpolesTypically limited to:The U.S. flagFlags of the Department of the InteriorSometimes the POW/MIA flagAny other flag is generally not allowed, unless it fits a narrow exception (like historical reenactments or interpretive displays) So the underlying principle isn’t new: federal flagpoles are supposed to avoid non-government or advocacy symbols. That’s been the default posture across administrations—Republican AND Democratic. The pride flag was removed because the policy was enforced. It wasn’t singling out this federal park site. The Trump administration… Read more »
Ok Mary. 🙄