The Trump administration announced on Monday that it will reinstate the display of a rainbow Pride flag on a federal flagpole at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City. This decision comes after the flag was taken down in February but will now be reinstated following a lawsuit filed by LGBTQ+ and historic preservation groups. The Interior Department and National Park Service have confirmed their commitment to keeping the Pride flag at Stonewall, as outlined in a joint court filing.
As per the agreement, the park service will hang three flags on the flagpole within a week. The Pride flag will be positioned below the U.S. flag and above the park service flag, in compliance with the U.S. flag code. The size of each flag will be nine meters by 1.5 meters.
Manhattan Borough president Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who organized a protest when the flag was initially removed, expressed satisfaction with the resolution, calling it a victory against the Trump administration’s attempt to erase LGBTQ+ history. The Gilbert Baker Foundation, which sued over the flag’s removal, also welcomed the decision, emphasizing the importance of the Rainbow Flag at Stonewall.
The Pride flag’s removal had sparked controversy around President Trump’s stance on LGBTQ+ historical sites. The installation of the flag in 2022 during President Biden’s term was seen as a step towards inclusivity. However, the flag was later removed in compliance with federal guidelines on flag displays, leading to backlash from LGBTQ+ activists who viewed it as an attack on their history and progress.
Former President Obama established the Stonewall monument in 2016 to commemorate the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Trump’s administration faced criticism for its approach to diversity and inclusion initiatives, with concerns raised about the removal of references to transgender individuals from the monument’s materials.
The reinstatement of the Pride flag at Stonewall signifies a positive development in the ongoing efforts to honor LGBTQ+ history and promote inclusivity at historic sites.