New Yorkers Raise Pride Flag Over Stonewall National Monument In Defiance Of New Federal Guidance
Source: Squarespace/ Unsplash
The Removal: A Directive from D.C.
In early February 2026, the Stonewall National Monument in New York City became the flashpoint of a heated cultural and political standoff. What began as a quiet administrative removal of the Pride flag by federal authorities quickly escalated into a high-profile act of defiance by local leaders and activists.
Over the weekend of February 7–8, 2026, the National Park Service (NPS) quietly removed the large rainbow Pride flag from the flagpole within Christopher Park—the federally managed site that makes up the Stonewall National Monument.
The removal was carried out to comply with a January 21, 2026, Department of the Interior (DOI) memorandum. This federal guidance restricted the types of flags permitted on NPS-managed land, limiting displays primarily to:
The United States flag
Official agency flags (e.g., Department of the Interior or NPS)
The POW/MIA flag
The administration defended the move as a return to "consistency" and "neutrality" on federal property. However, the timing and location—Stonewall being the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement—led critics to view the action as a targeted "act of erasure."
The Backlash: "Stonewall Was a Warning"
The absence of the flag was discovered on Monday, February 9, sparking immediate outrage from New York officials and the LGBTQ+ community.
Local Leadership: Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and City Council Speaker Julie Menin issued scathing statements. Hoylman-Sigal famously remarked, "Our community is not going to stand by idly as the Trump administration tries to erase our history."
Public Outcry: Protesters gathered at the monument throughout the week, holding signs with slogans like "Stonewall was a Warning" and chanting "Raise our flag."
Historical Context: Activists pointed out that the administration had already scrubbed references to transgender and non-binary people from the monument's official website in 2025, framing the flag removal as the latest step in a broader campaign to "sanitize" queer history.
Source: Squarespace/ Unsplash
The Defiance: Re-raising the Colors
The standoff culminated on the afternoon of Thursday, February 12, 2026. In a scene described as both celebratory and chaotic, local politicians and activists took matters into their own hands.
The Re-Raising: Accompanied by U.S. Representatives Jerry Nadler and Dan Goldman, local officials used zip ties to return the Pride flag to the pole.
A Symbolic Shift: Initially, the Pride flag was raised beneath the American flag. However, after shouts of "raise it higher" from the crowd, activists entered the gated area and repositioned the flags so they flew side-by-side, with the Pride flag positioned slightly higher than the Stars and Stripes.
Federal Response: The Department of the Interior dismissed the event as "political pageantry" and a "distraction," suggesting city officials should focus on local issues like trash buildup and winter storm recovery instead of "stunts."
Current Status
As of mid-February 2026, the flag remains a symbol of active resistance. While the federal government maintains that the flag violates current DOI policy, New York leaders have vowed to protect its presence at the monument, setting the stage for a potential legal or jurisdictional battle over the "sacred ground" of Christopher Street.
Across the street from the federal monument, the privately owned Stonewall Inn continues to fly its own Pride flags, which remain unaffected by federal directives.
