The National Park Service (NPS) has removed references to transgender and queer people from its website for the Stonewall National Monument in New York. This monument, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Riots, is a historic landmark in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. The changes follow an executive order by former President Donald Trump, which redefined sex in federal policies as strictly male or female.
Changes to the Stonewall National Monument Website
On Thursday, the website was updated to delete the terms “transgender” and “queer” from its descriptions. The LGBTQ+ acronym was altered, with the letters T and Q removed, and replaced with terms like “LGB rights movement” and “LGB civil rights”.
Despite the text changes, the website still includes images of transgender activists involved in the Stonewall Uprising. However, the removal of explicit mentions of transgender individuals has sparked outrage among LGBTQ+ advocates and New York officials.
Reactions from LGBTQ+ Advocates and Leaders
Several advocacy groups and officials have condemned the erasure of transgender contributions in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul
Gov. Hochul called the changes “cruel and petty,” stating:
“Transgender people play a critical role in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights — and New York will never allow their contributions to be erased.”
Stonewall Inn and LGBTQ+ Organizations
The Stonewall Inn and The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative released a joint statement denouncing the edits:
“This blatant act of erasure distorts history and dishonors the immense contributions of transgender individuals—especially transgender women of color—who were at the forefront of the Stonewall Riots.”
GLAAD’s Response
GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) issued a strong statement:
“You can try to erase our history, but we will never forget those who came before us and will continue to fight for those who come after us.”
Concerns from the Transgender Community
Stacy Lentz, CEO of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative
Lentz criticized the move as an attempt to “cis-wash” LGBTQ+ history, adding:
“They’re trying to take trans folks out of history by pretending they didn’t exist then and don’t exist now. It is very alarming.”
Angelica Christina, Transgender Advocate
Christina, a board director at The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, expressed deep concern over the changes, stating:
“A lot of us are very scared right now. Many are fleeing the country because of what’s happening. The Stonewall Inn has always been a safe haven for the LGBT community, and this feels like an attack.”
History of the Stonewall National Monument
The Stonewall National Monument was designated by President Barack Obama in 2016 as the first U.S. national monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ history. The site includes:
- A small park in Greenwich Village, across from the historic Stonewall Inn.
- A visitor center that opened in 2023, financed largely through private donations, with $450,000 from the National Park Service’s charitable arm.
Former President Joe Biden and Elton John attended the center’s grand opening.
Trump’s Executive Order and the Federal Government’s Stance
The Trump administration’s executive order redefined sex as strictly male or female, stating that sex is determined by reproductive organs at birth. This policy shift:
- Was supported by conservative groups like the American Family Association.
- Was opposed by medical experts, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association, who affirm that gender is a spectrum, not a binary.
The National Park Service has not responded to media inquiries about the website changes or whether additional alterations are planned.
