- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Manhattan Today
By the People, for the People
Rainbow Flag Removed from Stonewall Monument, Sparking Protests and Lawsuit
New York City and LGBTQ+ community reinstall flag after federal authorities took it down, setting off legal battle
Published on Feb. 23, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The Rainbow Pride flag that flew above the Stonewall National Monument in New York City was taken down by National Park authorities at the behest of the Trump administration on February 9, 2026. This sparked protests and outrage from LGBTQ+ advocates, who saw the removal as an attempt to erase LGBTQ+ history and visibility. Two days later, New York City officials and activists reinstated the Pride flag, but a coalition of LGBTQ+ groups has now sued the Trump administration over the initial removal.
Why it matters
The Stonewall Inn and the surrounding Stonewall National Monument are considered the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, after the Stonewall Riots in 1969. The Pride flag flying at the monument was seen as an important symbol of LGBTQ+ visibility and the ongoing fight for equality. The removal of the flag was viewed as a direct attack on LGBTQ+ history and identity by the federal government.
The details
On February 9, 2026, the National Park Service took down the Rainbow Pride flag that had been flying at the Stonewall National Monument since June 2021. When questioned, the Park Service stated they were following federal guidelines issued on January 21 that only allow the U.S. flag and other authorized flags on federal flagpoles. This sparked outrage from LGBTQ+ advocates, who saw the removal as an attempt to erase LGBTQ+ history and identity. On February 10, hundreds protested the flag's removal, and two days later the Pride flag was reinstalled by New York City officials and community members. However, a coalition of LGBTQ+ groups, including the Gilbert Baker Foundation and Equality New York, have now sued the Trump administration in federal court, arguing the flag's removal was 'arbitrary and capricious' and based on anti-LGBTQ+ animus.
- On February 9, 2026, the National Park Service took down the Rainbow Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument.
- On February 10, 2026, hundreds of people protested the removal of the Pride flag.
- On February 12, 2026, New York City officials and activists reinstated the Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument.
- On February 15, 2026, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Representative Daniel Goldman announced legislation to permanently authorize the display of the LGBTQ Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument.
- On February 17, 2026, a coalition of LGBTQ+ advocates and community groups sued the Trump administration in federal court over the removal of the Pride flag.
The players
Stonewall National Monument
The Stonewall National Monument in New York City's Greenwich Village, which includes the historic Stonewall Inn, is considered the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement after the Stonewall Riots in 1969.
National Park Service
The federal agency that manages the Stonewall National Monument and removed the Rainbow Pride flag from the site in February 2026 at the direction of the Trump administration.
Stacy Lentz
The owner of the Stonewall Inn, who expressed surprise and outrage at the removal of the Pride flag, stating 'We cannot allow the government to erase a historical fact.'
Brad Hoylman-Sigal
The openly LGBTQ+ Manhattan Borough President, who expressed disappointment and concern over the symbolism of removing the Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument.
Chuck Schumer
The Senate Majority Leader who announced legislation to permanently authorize the display of the LGBTQ Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument.
What they’re saying
“We cannot allow the government to erase a historical fact.”
— Stacy Lentz, Stonewall Inn owner (USA Today)
“Right now, we need to speak up for one another. Right now it's just a flag, soon they'll tear down Stonewall [and] tear down the monument.”
— Protester (USA Today)
“On one level, removing a flag seems extremely, I guess, pedestrian. But the symbolism of doing it here at Stonewall is what is so profoundly disappointing and frightening.”
— Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Manhattan Borough President (USA Today)
What’s next
The lawsuit filed by LGBTQ+ advocates and community groups against the Trump administration over the removal of the Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument is still ongoing. The outcome of this legal battle will determine whether the flag can be permanently authorized to fly at the historic site.
The takeaway
The removal and subsequent reinstallation of the Rainbow Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument highlights the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ visibility and the preservation of queer history. This incident underscores the importance of protecting LGBTQ+ symbols and landmarks, even in the face of attempts by the federal government to erase them.
