Pride flag removed from Stonewall monument

Published: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 5:11 pm

Pride Flag Removed from Stonewall Monument Sparks Outrage

A controversy has erupted following the removal of the Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument, a site of significant historical importance to the LGBTQ+ rights movement. The removal, reported on Monday, has drawn strong condemnation from local officials and community leaders who view it as an attack on the LGBTQ+ community and an attempt to erase its history.

Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal expressed outrage, connecting the action to a broader pattern of perceived attacks on minority groups. New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin echoed these sentiments, calling the removal a "deliberate and cowardly attempt to erase that history."

The National Park Service (NPS) stated that the removal was in accordance with "government-wide guidance" restricting flag displays to the U.S. flag and other authorized flags, with limited exceptions. The NPS did not specify when the flag was removed. A January memo does provide narrow exemptions for non-agency flags, such as those that "provide historical context" or "are part of historic reenactments."

Community members have vowed to challenge the decision. Hoylman-Sigal announced plans to raise the flag again, with the intention of protesting the removal. New York State Senator Erik Bottcher (D) also condemned the action, calling it a "deliberate act of erasure" and vowing that the community will not be silenced.

The incident follows previous concerns about the administration's actions regarding historical monuments, including alterations to the NPS Stonewall website last year.

BNN's Perspective:

While the NPS's adherence to flag guidelines is understandable, the timing and context of this removal raise legitimate concerns. The Stonewall National Monument holds immense significance for the LGBTQ+ community, and the removal of the Pride flag, particularly given the historical context of the site, could be perceived as insensitive. A more nuanced approach, perhaps incorporating the Pride flag within the existing guidelines, would have been a more inclusive and respectful gesture.

Keywords: Pride flag, Stonewall National Monument, LGBTQ+, NPS, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Julie Menin, Erik Bottcher, flag removal, historical context, government guidelines, protest, erasure, transgender, rights movement

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