Activists Rally Against Removal of Transgender References from Stonewall Monument

The Trump administration’s alteration of the Stonewall National Monument website to exclude transgender references has sparked outrage among activists, leading to protests asserting that the LGBTQ+ community cannot be represented without acknowledging its transgender members.

In a controversial move, the Trump administration has removed references to transgender individuals from the Stonewall National Monument's website, which commemorates the 1969 police raid that catalyzed the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. The National Park Service's website, once encompassing the whole LGBTQ+ spectrum, has now been revised to refer exclusively to LGB, which stands for lesbian, gay, and bisexual.

This change aligns with President Trump's executive order issued on his first day in office, which sought to recognize only two sexes — male and female. Critics have rallied against the decision, organizing protests at the monument site, known as a historic landmark in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Stacy Lentz, co-owner of the Stonewall Inn, stated on social media, "There is no Pride without Trans folks leading that fight! This erasure from the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement will not happen!"

The National Park Service defended its actions, stating they were merely complying with the president's directive that called for reinstating what was dubbed "biological truth." Activists, however, express that this is a gross misrepresentation of history. A previous version of the site highlighted the struggles faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, while the updated text misleadingly narrows the focus exclusively to LGB.

Despite some remaining mentions of transgender history on the site, the alterations have been widely criticized. The Stonewall Inn and its initiatives issued a statement expressing outrage and asserting that this act not only misrepresents the community's history but also undermines the vital contributions of transgender individuals. New York Governor Kathy Hochul also condemned the changes, characterizing them as "cruel and petty."

Protests erupted next to the Stonewall monument, featuring demonstrators holding signs proclaiming slogans like "You can't spell history without a T." This discontent underscores a broader issue of recognition and representation, affirming that any narrative of LGBTQ+ history must include the voices and struggles of its transgender members.