Flags fly at Stonewall National Monument in New York. The park's webpages were recently scrubbed of any mention of the trans community, including webpages about activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, key players in the Stonewall Uprising who later founded one of the first LGBTQ youth shelters in America. Credit: NPCA

February 12, 2026 - On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and U.S. Representative Dan Goldman (D-NY-10) sent a letter to the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service slamming the Trump administration’s decision to remove the Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument and calling for its immediate restoration.  

Related: Keep Them Flying! National Parks Conservation Association Calls for Pride Flags to Remain at Stonewall National Monument as President Trump’s Administration Removes Them

“Removing the Pride flag is an insult to the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought for equality for the LGBTQ+ community, and is antithetical to American values of liberty and justice for all. The flag must be replaced immediately,” wrote the members. 

“We unequivocally reject this administration’s attempts to erase or otherwise rewrite LGBTQ+ history, which fundamentally undermines the trust and respect of communities that are central to our American story. At a time when hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals remain alarmingly high, we all must work to support and uplift the LGBTQ+ community – not sow further division and strife,” they continued. 

The Stonewall Inn is the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement, and it was designated as a national monument by President Obama and the National Park Service (NPS) in 2016 – the first unit of the National Park System dedicated to LGBTQ+ equality. Senator Gillibrand led the congressional effort to designate Stonewall as a national monument, and in 2024, she introduced a “Stonewall Day” resolution commemorating the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion. 

Last month, NPS issued guidance which requires that only the U.S. flag or other congressionally or departmentally authorized flags are permitted to be flown on NPS-managed flagpoles. As a result, the NPS has removed the Pride flag that has historically been flown at the Stonewall National Monument and represented the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ justice and equality.

The full text of the letter is available here or below: 

Dear Secretary Burgum and Acting Director Bowron: 

We write to you to strongly condemn the decision to remove the Pride flag from the grounds of the Stonewall National Monument. Removing the Pride flag is an insult to the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought for equality for the LGBTQ+ community, and is antithetical to American values of liberty and justice for all. The flag must be replaced immediately. 

As you know, the Stonewall Inn is the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement, and was designated as a national monument by the National Park Service (NPS) on June 24, 2016 – the first unit of the National Park System dedicated to LGBTQ+ equality. The monument stands as a testament to the struggle for civil rights in this country, and the Pride flag embodies the ideals of that movement: unity, inclusion, love, and the ongoing fight for justice and equality. 

Last month, NPS issued guidance which requires that only the U.S. flag or other congressionally or departmentally authorized flags are permitted to be flown on NPS-managed flagpoles. As a result, the NPS has decided to remove the Pride flag which has historically been flown at the Stonewall National Monument. This latest decision, however,  follows an alarming trend of anti-LGBTQ+ decisions by the NPS. Last year, the NPS also removed references to transgender and queer Americans from the Stonewall National Monument website and Pride display, and has otherwise sought to rewrite the history of the Stonewall Inn. 

These decisions are deeply offensive and send a troubling message to the LGBTQ+ community. We unequivocally reject this administration’s attempts to erase or otherwise rewrite LGBTQ+ history, which fundamentally undermines the trust and respect of communities that are central to our American story. At a time when hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals remain alarmingly high, we all must work to support and uplift the LGBTQ+ community – not sow further division and strife. As New Yorkers, and as Americans, we have a duty to honor the legacy of those who struggled and endured so that future generations of LGBTQ+ individuals might finally live in a country free of discrimination. 

We demand the NPS immediately reverse this decision, and restore the Pride flag to its rightful place at the Stonewall National Monument. We also request an immediate briefing with the National Park Service to understand the rationale behind these decisions, and to ensure that erasure of LGBTQ+ history comes to an end. 

We look forward to your prompt reply. 

Source: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand