Trump Admin Bars Pride Flag at Stonewall Monument

Federal government says only U.S. flag allowed, despite local outcry

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Trump administration is refusing to allow the Pride flag to fly at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City, despite demands from LGBTQ advocates and local officials. The National Park Service removed the Pride flag last weekend, citing a new federal policy that only allows the U.S. flag, Interior Department flag, and POW/MIA flag to be flown on monument flagpoles.

Why it matters

The Stonewall Riots in 1969 sparked the modern LGBTQ rights movement, making the monument a symbolic and historically significant site for the community. The refusal to fly the Pride flag is seen as an attack on LGBTQ visibility and representation at this important national landmark.

The details

On Valentine's Day, scores of LGBTQ couples gathered at the Stonewall Monument to protest the flag's removal. Local officials have written to the Trump administration demanding the Pride flag be reinstated, but the Department of the Interior has doubled down, saying there will be "no exceptions" to the new flagpole rules.

  • The Pride flag was removed from the Stonewall Monument flagpole last weekend.
  • On Thursday, the Pride flag was briefly raised again by protesters, but was later taken down.
  • On Saturday, the Pride flag remained flying, but federal officials said they would continue to adhere to the new rules.

The players

U.S. Department of the Interior

The federal agency that oversees the National Park Service and the Stonewall National Monument.

Chris DiPietro

A 60-year-old LGBTQ New Yorker who visited the Stonewall Monument on Valentine's Day to protest the Pride flag's removal.

Dusty Phillips

A 68-year-old visitor from North Carolina who came to the Stonewall Monument with her partner on Valentine's Day.

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What they’re saying

“It was just confirmation (that they) can't erase us. We're here. This national monument is for this community and it needs to stay here.”

— Chris DiPietro (NY1)

“I think that there's a good chance that it can be taken down again. They can take it down off the flagpole, but they're not taking it away from me.”

— Dusty Phillips (NY1)

What’s next

The Department of the Interior has indicated it will continue to enforce the new flag policy at the Stonewall Monument, despite local protests and demands to reinstate the Pride flag.

The takeaway

This dispute over the Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument highlights the ongoing political battles over LGBTQ representation and visibility, even at historically significant sites. The refusal to allow the Pride flag to fly is seen as an attack on the LGBTQ community by the Trump administration.