The Trump administration announced on Monday that it will once again fly a rainbow Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City, reversing its previous decision to remove the banner in February. This change comes as a result of the government agreeing to settle a lawsuit filed by LGBTQ+ and historic preservation groups that objected to the flag’s removal. The Interior Department and National Park Service have affirmed their commitment to displaying the Pride flag at Stonewall, as stated in court documents filed jointly by the government and the advocacy groups.
According to the agreement, the park service will hang three flags on the flagpole at the monument 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. Each flag will measure nine meters by 1.5 meters. The Stonewall monument already features a large Pride banner on a city-controlled flagpole and small rainbow flags on a fence surrounding the site, which have remained in place throughout this period.
Manhattan Borough president Brad Hoylman-Sigal, a Democrat and the first openly gay person elected to his position, expressed satisfaction with the resolution, stating, “We fought the Trump administration and won.” The Gilbert Baker Foundation, which honors the creator of the Pride flag, also welcomed the decision, emphasizing the importance of the Rainbow Flag’s presence at Stonewall as a symbol of LGBTQ+ liberation.
The Pride flag had sparked controversy regarding President Donald Trump’s policies towards the historic site, the first national monument commemorating LGBTQ+ history. Following advocacy efforts, the flag was officially installed during President Joe Biden’s tenure in 2022. The removal of the flag in February, citing federal guidance on flag displays, was met with criticism from LGBTQ+ activists who viewed it as an attempt to diminish the site’s significance to their community.
Former President Barack Obama established the Stonewall monument in 2016, recognizing its historical importance in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Trump’s administration’s actions regarding diversity and inclusion initiatives and protections for transgender individuals have been scrutinized, with some materials related to transgender rights being altered or removed from the monument under his presidency. The administration’s broader approach to national parks and landmarks has also faced criticism for perceived attempts to sanitize historical narratives.