Pride Flag Raised at Stonewall Monument After Federal Removal

Local officials and community members defy order to take down the Pride flag at the historic LGBTQ+ landmark.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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In a defiant act, local politicians and community members in New York City gathered to raise a Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument on Thursday, just days after the U.S. Department of the Interior had removed the flag from the site. The flag-raising was a symbolic stand for LGBTQ+ rights and representation at the historic landmark that commemorates the 1969 Stonewall riots, a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQ+ liberation.

Why it matters

The removal of the Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument, a site that holds immense significance for the LGBTQ+ community, was seen as a troubling move that diminished the visibility and representation of queer identities at a historic landmark. The community's swift action to raise the flag again underscores the continued importance of protecting and uplifting LGBTQ+ spaces, even in the face of federal directives.

The details

On Wednesday, federal employees had raised an American flag on the pole at the Stonewall National Monument, replacing the Pride flag that had previously flown there. In response, local politicians and community members gathered on Thursday to raise the Pride flag once again, placing it side-by-side with the American flag. The crowd chanted 'higher!' until the Pride flag was raised to be level with the American flag, a symbolic gesture of equal representation.

  • On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of the Interior removed the Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument.
  • On Wednesday, federal employees raised an American flag on the pole at the monument.
  • On Thursday evening, local politicians and community members gathered to raise the Pride flag again at the Stonewall National Monument.

The players

Brad Hoylman-Sigal

Manhattan borough president who spoke at the flag-raising event.

Timothy French

A 47-year-old drag performer from the Bronx who uses gender-neutral pronouns and expressed the emotional significance of the flag-raising.

Julie Menin

New York City Council speaker who said she and other lawmakers sent a letter to the National Park Service demanding the return of the Pride flag.

Barack Obama

The former U.S. president who designated the Stonewall National Monument in 2016.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who, in 2025, removed mentions of 'queer' and 'transgender' from the Stonewall National Monument's website.

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What they’re saying

“We have brought the flag back to a sacred site.”

— Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Manhattan borough president (The New York Times)

“If you can't fly a Pride flag steps from Stonewall Monument, at the National monument for LGBTQ liberation, where can you fly it? So, we put it back.”

— Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Manhattan borough president (The Hill)

“We, you know, are part of a bigger picture. We represent everyone in this country. This is a landmark for our community that's important to so many people across the world.”

— Timothy French, Drag performer (The New York Times)

What’s next

It is unclear how long the Pride flag will be allowed to remain at the Stonewall National Monument, as the site is under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, which had previously removed the flag citing federal guidelines.

The takeaway

The community's swift and defiant action to raise the Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument underscores the continued importance of protecting and uplifting LGBTQ+ spaces, even in the face of federal directives that seek to diminish their visibility and representation. This event serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights and the enduring legacy of the Stonewall riots.