Elected Officials Reinstall Pride Flag at Stonewall National Monument After Trump Administration Removal

New York City and State leaders condemned the flag's removal and raised it again on their own.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Trump administration quietly removed the Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument in New York City last week. Several elected officials, including the New York City mayor, New York State governor, and local lawmakers, condemned the flag's removal and gathered on Thursday to reinstall the Pride flag at the monument on their own.

Why it matters

The Stonewall National Monument is the first national monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights and history, commemorating the 1969 Stonewall uprising that catalyzed the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. The removal of the Pride flag was seen as an act of erasure of LGBTQ+ history and identity by the Trump administration.

The details

On Friday, February 6, a National Park Service employee was witnessed removing the Pride flag that flew over the Stonewall National Monument. Several elected officials, including the New York City mayor, New York State governor, and local lawmakers, condemned the flag's removal and gathered on Thursday to reinstall the Pride flag at the monument on their own.

  • The Pride flag was removed on Friday, February 6.
  • Elected officials gathered to reinstall the Pride flag on Thursday, February 12.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City.

Kathy Hochul

The governor of New York State.

Brad Hoylman-Sigal

The Manhattan Borough President.

Chi Ossé

A New York City councilman.

Erik Bottcher

A New York State senator.

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What they’re saying

“I am outraged by the removal of the Rainbow Pride Flag from Stonewall National Monument. New York is the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, and no act of erasure will ever change, or silence, that history. Our city has a duty not just to honor this legacy, but to live up to it. I will always fight for a New York City that invests in our LGBTQ+ community, defends their dignity, and protects every one of our neighbors—without exception.”

— Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor (X)

“When the Pride flag comes down at Stonewall, it doesn't land as a routine policy choice. It lands as a warning. It tells LGBTQ+ Americans that their dignity is conditional and that even the most iconic symbol of their struggle can be stripped away.”

— Erik Bottcher, New York State Senator (Letter to President Trump, Interior Secretary Burgum, and NPS Acting Director Bowron)

What’s next

The National Park Service has stated that the removal of the Pride flag was made to ensure consistency with guidance over 'non-agency' flags at NPS sites. It remains to be seen if the Biden administration will restore the Pride flag to the Stonewall National Monument.

The takeaway

The removal and subsequent reinstallation of the Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument highlights the ongoing struggle to preserve LGBTQ+ history and identity, even at the nation's most iconic LGBTQ+ landmarks. This incident underscores the importance of vigilance and advocacy to protect hard-won civil rights gains.