The removal of the Pride flag from Stonewall National Monument in Fresh York City earlier this month has sparked a wave of protest and condemnation, drawing swift reactions from artists and political leaders alike. The Trump administration replaced the rainbow flag – a globally recognized symbol of LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion – with an American flag at the National Park Service site in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village in early January, a move that critics say diminishes the historical significance of the landmark.
Singer Adam Lambert, a founding partner of Pride Live and the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center (SNMVC), publicly addressed the situation on Thursday, February 12, via Instagram. Lambert emphasized the profound importance of Stonewall, stating, “Stonewall is not just a park, it is sacred historical ground in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.” He continued, framing the Pride flag not as a political statement, but as “a symbol of visibility, resilience, and the countless lives that have fought, and continue to fight, for dignity and equality.” Removing the flag, Lambert argued, sends a dangerous message that the history and humanity of the LGBTQ+ community are “negotiable,” a claim he firmly rejects. “We were here. We are here. And we will continue to be,” he wrote.
A History of Protest and Recognition
The Stonewall National Monument commemorates the site of the 1969 Stonewall riots, a pivotal moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. The clashes between police and patrons of the Stonewall Inn, a historic gay bar, are widely considered the catalyst for the modern fight for LGBTQ+ equality in the United States. Established as a national monument by President Barack Obama in 2016, the site stands as a national civil rights landmark, a testament to the struggles and triumphs of the LGBTQ+ community.
The recent removal of the Pride flag occurred on February 10, following new guidance issued by the Trump administration prohibiting the display of “non-agency” flags within the National Park System, according to the Associated Press. This directive effectively limits flags flown at national monuments to the American flag, the Department of the Interior flag, and flags honoring prisoners of war.
Swift Response from Artists and Officials
Lambert was not alone in voicing his disapproval. Singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams also expressed her outrage, resharing a post from comedian Benito Skinner on her Instagram Story, calling the removal “Demonic.” The action also drew immediate condemnation from New York City officials.
Newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on February 12, expressing his “outrage” at the flag’s removal. “New York is the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, and no act of erasure will ever change, or silence, that history,” Mamdani wrote. “Our city has a duty not just to honor this legacy, but to live up to it.”
New York is the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, and no act of erasure will ever change, or silence, that history. Our city has a duty not just to honor this legacy, but to live up to it. pic.twitter.com/2021308844308045912
— NYC Mayor (@NYCMayor) February 12, 2024
Local Officials Restore the Flag
In a direct response to the Trump administration’s decision, local elected officials took matters into their own hands on February 12, raising the Pride flag once again at the Stonewall National Monument, as reported by the Associated Press. This act of defiance prompted a strong rebuke from the Department of the Interior, which manages the country’s national parks.
The Department of the Interior, in a statement, argued that the flag removal was in accordance with decades-old federal code, and that the Stonewall Inn itself, located nearby, continues to display Pride flags. However, critics maintain that the administration’s actions represent a deliberate attempt to marginalize the LGBTQ+ community and erase its history.
The debate over the Pride flag at Stonewall National Monument underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding LGBTQ+ rights and visibility in the United States. As of February 14, 2026, the situation remains fluid, with no immediate indication of a resolution from the Biden administration. Further developments are expected as the Department of the Interior reviews its flag display policies.
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