Stonewall Pride Flag Removed by National Park Service

The removal of the rainbow flag from the Stonewall National Monument sparks outrage from LGBTQ+ advocates.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The National Park Service (NPS) has removed the rainbow pride flag that was flying at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City's Greenwich Village. The site was designated as the first federal monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights in 2016. The NPS cited federal guidelines that only allow the U.S. flag and other authorized flags to be flown on NPS-managed flagpoles, leading to the removal of the pride flag that was installed in 2021.

Why it matters

The Stonewall National Monument commemorates the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, a pivotal moment in the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. The removal of the pride flag is seen by advocates as a targeted attack on the LGBTQ+ community and a step back from the monument's purpose of honoring LGBTQ+ history and progress.

The details

The rainbow pride flag was permanently installed at the Stonewall National Monument in 2021, the first time a pride flag had flown over federally-funded land. Advocate Steven Love Menendez, who had petitioned for the flag's installation in 2017, called the removal "a slap in the face to the community" and a "punch in the gut" that takes away a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride and triumph. The removal comes after a 2025 executive order by former President Trump directing the removal of "divisive" and "anti-American" content from national parks.

  • The rainbow pride flag was permanently installed at the Stonewall National Monument in 2021.
  • The flag was removed by the National Park Service in February 2026.

The players

National Park Service (NPS)

The federal agency that manages the Stonewall National Monument and oversees the removal of the pride flag.

Steven Love Menendez

A New York-based LGBTQ+ rights advocate who petitioned for the permanent installation of the pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument in 2017.

President Barack Obama

Designated the Stonewall National Monument as the first federal monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights in 2016.

President Donald Trump

Issued an executive order in 2025 directing the removal of "divisive" and "anti-American" content from national parks, which may have influenced the NPS decision to remove the pride flag.

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What they’re saying

“It's a targeted attack on the community, right? Because the flag was there. It's not that they never gave permission for it to be erected. They did give permission for it to be erected, and now they're using some legal language to try to make an excuse for taking it down.”

— Steven Love Menendez, LGBTQ+ rights advocate (ABC News)

“For me, [the rainbow flag] is a sense of pride and joy and celebration and victory for our community. ... This flag represents our victory and our triumphs. [Removing] it feels like a slap in the face to the community, you know, a punch in the gut. They're taking away our symbol of pride.”

— Steven Love Menendez, LGBTQ+ rights advocate (ABC News)

What’s next

The National Park Service has not indicated if or when the pride flag may be reinstalled at the Stonewall National Monument. LGBTQ+ advocates are expected to continue pressing the agency and the Biden administration to restore the flag as a symbol of the community's history and progress.

The takeaway

The removal of the pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument, a site that commemorates a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history, is seen by the community as a troubling step backwards. It highlights the ongoing battles over representation and inclusion in public spaces, even at nationally recognized monuments honoring marginalized groups.