In a controversial move, the Trump administration has revised the Stonewall National Monument website, substituting the inclusive LGBTQ+ acronym with LGB, which stands for lesbian, gay, and bisexual. This alteration aligns with an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on his first day in office, which declared a recognition of only two sexes—male and female. The changes have ignited a wave of protests and backlash from LGBTQ+ activists, who argue that the erasure of transgender people from the narrative of the monument undermines its significance as a historical site dedicated to the rights of all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Protesters gathered at the Stonewall site to express their discontent, with prominent activist Stacy Lentz emphasizing that “there is no Pride without Trans folks leading that fight!” This statement highlights the integral role transgender individuals have played in the history of LGBTQ+ advocacy. Prior versions of the National Park Service’s site acknowledged the importance of transgender individuals in the struggle for equality, stating: “Before the 1960s, almost everything about living openly as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+) person was illegal.” The revised text, however, only acknowledges LGB individuals, effectively sidelining transgender narratives and contributions.
In response to the changes, the Stonewall Inn and the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative condemned the updates, calling them a “blatant act of erasure” that distorts the historical truth. New York Governor Kathy Hochul also criticized the alterations, labeling them as “cruel and petty.”
The Stonewall riots, a series of uprisings that took place in 1969 after a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, are widely regarded as a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. The site was designated as a national monument by former President Barack Obama in 2016. Activists have vowed to continue fighting against what they see as attempts to erase transgender history from the broader narrative of LGBTQ+ rights.
Protesters gathered at the Stonewall site to express their discontent, with prominent activist Stacy Lentz emphasizing that “there is no Pride without Trans folks leading that fight!” This statement highlights the integral role transgender individuals have played in the history of LGBTQ+ advocacy. Prior versions of the National Park Service’s site acknowledged the importance of transgender individuals in the struggle for equality, stating: “Before the 1960s, almost everything about living openly as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+) person was illegal.” The revised text, however, only acknowledges LGB individuals, effectively sidelining transgender narratives and contributions.
In response to the changes, the Stonewall Inn and the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative condemned the updates, calling them a “blatant act of erasure” that distorts the historical truth. New York Governor Kathy Hochul also criticized the alterations, labeling them as “cruel and petty.”
The Stonewall riots, a series of uprisings that took place in 1969 after a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, are widely regarded as a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. The site was designated as a national monument by former President Barack Obama in 2016. Activists have vowed to continue fighting against what they see as attempts to erase transgender history from the broader narrative of LGBTQ+ rights.
