The National Park Service (NPS) has come under fire for removing references to transgender individuals from the Stonewall National Monument's official website. The changes to the site, located in New York City, were made following an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump, which mandated a return to recognizing only two biological sexes—male and female.
Activists swiftly denounced the alterations, describing them as a blatant attempt to erase transgender contributions to the LGBTQ+ rights movement. The acronym LGB—standing for lesbian, gay, and bisexual—has replaced the more inclusive LGBTQ+, causing uproar among community leaders and supporters.
"As the birthplace of modern LGBTQ+ rights, we cannot allow transgender individuals to be erased from our narrative," said Stacy Lentz, the co-owner of The Stonewall Inn, in a social media post announcing a protest at the site. The call to action drew significant attention with demonstrators holding signs proclaiming messages like, "You can't spell history without a T."
Responding to the changes, the NPS stated that the modifications were necessary to comply with the executive order, which aimed to "restore biological truth" within the federal government. However, many voices within the LGBTQ+ community view this decision as a severe distortion of history.
Former President Barack Obama designated the Stonewall National Monument in 2016, recognizing it as a pivotal location tied to the 1969 Stonewall riots—an event that significantly advanced the fight for gay equality in the United States. Despite some references to transgender people remaining on the website, the action still drew widespread condemnation from various quarters, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who labeled the initiative "cruel and petty."
The Monument spans 7.7 acres, which includes Christopher Park. As protests continue, LGBTQ+ advocates are determined to keep the history and struggles of transgender individuals at the forefront of their movement.
