NEW YORK, February 11 2026 The trump administration has removed a rainbow Pride flag from the stone wall national Monument, one of the most important landmarks in history of LGBTQ + rights in the United States. The flag was taken down in early February, prompting strong reactions from community members, local officials and civil rights advocates nationwide.
The Stone National Monument, located in Manhattan’s Greenwich village across from the famous Stonewall Inn, was designated by President Obama in 2016 as the first national monument honoring the struggle for LGBTQ+ equality. The rainbow Pride flag symbolizing diversity and inclusion- had flown at the site for years and was a recognizable emblem of the movement’s legacy.
Officials from the National park service,which oversee the site, said the flag was removed to follow federal guidance stating that only official flags like the U.S. flag or the Department of the interior flag should fly on federally managed flagpoles. That guidance was issued earlier this year and is intended to standardize flag display across all national parks and monuments.
However, many New York leaders and activists see the decision as more than a technical policy change: they call it a symbolic erasure of LGBTQ+ history. Manhattan Borough President Brad Holyman-sigal described the removal ” community courage and the fight for civil rights.” Local officials, including the city mayor, voiced support for efforts, including the city’s mayor voiced support for efforts to raise the flag again, either nearby public property or back at the monument if possible.
Community members gathered at the site to protest, carrying smaller pride flags and emphasizing that the history celebrated at Stonewall can’t be taken away by removing a symbol. Some organizers say they plan events later this week to honor the space’s legacy and continue advocating for LGBTQ+ visibility.
Supporters of the administration’s decision argue that the changes simply enforce long-standing policy and avoid using national sites for political or cultural messages. Critics counter that history and civil rights are inherently political, and that the Pride flag has become part of the story of Stonewall.
NPR report on Pride flag removal (Feb. 11, 2026):
ABC News coverage of flag removal (Feb. 10, 2026):
https://abcnews.com/US/trump-
Time reporting on local leaders’ response (Feb. 11, 2026):
Advocate article on community protest (Feb. 2026):
https://www.advocate.com/
