NEW YORK (AP) — The Trump administration has decided to keep the rainbow Pride flag flying at the Stonewall National Monument, reversing a previous decision to remove the banner. This announcement was made as part of an effort to resolve a lawsuit filed by LGBTQ+ and historic preservation groups who resisted the flag's removal.
The agreement, pending judicial approval, confirms that the Interior Department and National Park Service will maintain the Pride flag at the Stonewall site indefinitely, only removing it for maintenance or practical reasons. In the coming week, the Park Service plans to install three flags on the monument's flagpole, including the Pride flag between the U.S. flag and the Park Service flag.
The Pride flag has been a focal point of discussion regarding President Donald Trump's policies concerning the Stonewall site, which holds significance as the country's first national monument commemorating LGBTQ+ history. The monument is located across the street from the Stonewall Inn, infamous for the 1969 uprising that sparked the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Initially, in February, the flag was removed under guidelines limiting the types of flags allowed on federal property. The Park Service had claimed this move was necessary, citing a memo that restricted displays primarily to the U.S., Department of the Interior, and POW/MIA flags, with very few exceptions.
The removal was met with swift backlash from activist groups and local officials who quickly raised another Pride flag at the site. After initial tensions, the flag was displayed alongside the U.S. flag, asserting the importance of LGBTQ+ representation.
President Barack Obama created the Stonewall monument in 2016 to honor the pivotal role it played in LGBTQ+ history. As the political climate surrounding these issues continues to evolve, the reinstatement of the Pride flag serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggles for equality and visibility.
