NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� The Trump administration said Monday it will resume flying a rainbow Pride flag on a federal flagpole at the in New York City, reversing course two months after removing the banner from the first national monument commemorating LGBTQ+ history.
The government revealed the decision in court papers as it agreed to settle filed by advocacy and historic preservation groups who had sought to block the Feb. 9 removal. A judge approved the deal.
The Interior Department and National Park Service 鈥渉ave confirmed their intention to maintain a Pride flag at Stonewall,鈥� lawyers for the government and the groups wrote in a joint court filing.
The flag 鈥� one of several Pride banners at the 7.7-acre (3.1-hectare) park 鈥� won鈥檛 be removed, except for 鈥渕aintenance or other practical purposes,鈥� the filing said.
Under the agreement, within a week, the park service will hang three flags on its flagpole at the monument. The Pride flag will be positioned below the U.S. flag, in accordance with U.S. flag code, and above the park service flag. Each will measure 3 feet by 5 feet (0.9 meters by 1.5 meters).
The site also features a large Pride flag on a city-controlled flagpole and smaller flags on a fence surrounding the monument, which is across the street from , the gay bar where a 1969 police raid sparked an uprising and helped catalyze . Those flags weren’t removed.
鈥淲e fought the Trump administration and won,鈥� said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal wrote on X. The Democrat helped organize a protest Pride flag raising after the government-authorized banner was removed.
鈥淲e as an LGBTQ community celebrate the legal climb-down by the gutless Trump Administration on their contemptuous attempt to erase queer people from American history at Stonewall,鈥� Hoylman-Sigal, the first openly gay person elected to his job, wrote.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, called the Trump administration鈥檚 reversal 鈥渁 victory for the LGBTQ+ community and for our entire city鈥� and 鈥渁 reminder that New Yorkers won鈥檛 let our history be rewritten.鈥�
The Gilbert Baker Foundation, which honors the Pride flag creator who died in 2017, was among the organizations that sued over the removal.
鈥淪tonewall is sacred ground in the fight for LGBTQ+ liberation, and this resolution helps ensure that the Rainbow Flag will continue to fly there, where it belongs,鈥� foundation President Charley Beal said.
The Pride flag had become a flashpoint for arguments over Republican President 鈥檚 approach to Stonewall and various other historical properties.
After a by activists who wanted the to be flown daily inside the park service-run site, the in 2022 during Democrat 鈥檚 tenure.
At the time, park service officials called it a sign of the government鈥檚 commitment to 鈥渢elling the complex and diverse histories of all Americans.鈥�
When it in February, the park service said it was complying with federal guidance on flag displays. A Jan. 21 memo largely restricted the agency to displaying U.S., Interior Department and POW/MIA flags, with exemptions that include providing 鈥渉istorical context.鈥�
The park service insisted the monument 鈥渞emains committed to preserving and interpreting the history and significance of this site鈥� through exhibits and programs. But LGBTQ+ activists saw the flag鈥檚 removal as a targeted affront meant to diminish a site that is all about their fight for rights and visibility.
Activists Michael Petrelis and Steven Love Menendez, who fought to have the park service fly the Pride flag, said they were pleased with Monday’s agreement. But, they said, they were dismayed that other symbols, such as the even more inclusive Progress Pride flag, were left out.
鈥淚 look forward to the day when the flag display can restored to its original intent that allows all iterations of LGBTQ+ flags to fly,鈥� Menendez said. 鈥淯ntil then at least we have the original rainbow flag flying to serve as a beacon of light.鈥�
Democratic President Barack Obama in 2016.
After Trump returned to office last year, he took aim at initiatives, and were excised from the Stonewall monument鈥檚 website and materials.
Trump鈥檚 administration similarly has put national parks, museums and landmarks under a messaging microscope, aiming or alter materials or 鈥渋nappropriately disparage Americans.鈥�
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Anthony Izaguirre contributed to this report.
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