The Trump administration's alteration of the Stonewall National Monument website to exclude transgender references has ignited strong reactions from activists, who rallied for recognition of the community's vital role in LGBTQ+ history.
Erasure of Transgender Identity from Stonewall Monument Website Sparks Outrage
Erasure of Transgender Identity from Stonewall Monument Website Sparks Outrage
Activists decry changes to National Park Service’s website that omit transgender references, leading to protests at iconic NYC site.
In a controversial move, the Trump administration has removed references to transgender individuals from the Stonewall National Monument website, leading to immediate backlash from activists and advocates within the LGBTQ+ community. The National Park Service website now identifies the acronym LGBTQ+ as LGB, focusing solely on lesbian, gay, and bisexual identities. These changes follow an executive order signed by President Trump on his first day in office which mandated recognition of only two sexes—male and female.
Activists condemned the restructuring during a protest held outside the historical site — the first national monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ history — as emotions ran high amid calls to honor the contributions of all community members. Stacy Lentz, co-owner of The Stonewall Inn, expressed on social media, "There is no Pride without Trans folks leading that fight! Trying to erase them from the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement will not happen!"
In response to the criticism, the National Park Service stated that their adjustments were meant to align with the executive order described as restoring “biological truth.” However, historical records indicate that the monument and its significance extend beyond mere biological classifications. The language shift is particularly stark, with previous versions of the website acknowledging the history of living openly as a transgender person, which has been omitted entirely.
The Stonewall Inn, a critical site for the 1969 riots that spurred the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, received designation as a national monument in 2016 under former President Barack Obama. Despite the updates, some references to transgender individuals remain within specific documents related to the monument, but the overall narrative has been heavily altered.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul criticized the edits, labeling them “cruel and petty.” Demonstrators rallied on Friday at the monument holding signs that read, “National Park Service, you can’t spell history without a T.” This ongoing conversation surrounding the identity and representation of transgender individuals continues to be a pressing issue within broader LGBTQ+ advocacy and activism.
Activists condemned the restructuring during a protest held outside the historical site — the first national monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ history — as emotions ran high amid calls to honor the contributions of all community members. Stacy Lentz, co-owner of The Stonewall Inn, expressed on social media, "There is no Pride without Trans folks leading that fight! Trying to erase them from the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement will not happen!"
In response to the criticism, the National Park Service stated that their adjustments were meant to align with the executive order described as restoring “biological truth.” However, historical records indicate that the monument and its significance extend beyond mere biological classifications. The language shift is particularly stark, with previous versions of the website acknowledging the history of living openly as a transgender person, which has been omitted entirely.
The Stonewall Inn, a critical site for the 1969 riots that spurred the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, received designation as a national monument in 2016 under former President Barack Obama. Despite the updates, some references to transgender individuals remain within specific documents related to the monument, but the overall narrative has been heavily altered.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul criticized the edits, labeling them “cruel and petty.” Demonstrators rallied on Friday at the monument holding signs that read, “National Park Service, you can’t spell history without a T.” This ongoing conversation surrounding the identity and representation of transgender individuals continues to be a pressing issue within broader LGBTQ+ advocacy and activism.
