The National Park Service (NPS) has recently updated its web page for the Stonewall National Monument by removing references to transgender and queer people. This decision has sparked concern within the LGBTQ community due to the monument’s historical significance as a pivotal site in the LGBTQ rights movement.
The original web page included references to a broad spectrum of identities within the LGBTQ community, but these have now been narrowed to ‘LGB.’ Stacy Lentz, co-owner of the Stonewall Inn, expressed her distress over what she sees as an erasure of history. ‘This feels especially personal,’ she remarked, highlighting the monument’s role as the birthplace of the LGBTQ rights movement, where Pride began.
The Stonewall National Monument honors the site of the 1969 Stonewall riots in Greenwich Village, New York City, which were key in igniting the modern LGBTQ rights movement. Transgender women, particularly activists like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, were instrumental during these events, challenging police during the infamous raid and subsequent protests and skirmishes.
The Trump administration’s directive to recognize only two genders has influenced similar actions across federal agencies. This includes shortening the ‘LGBTQ+’ acronym and removing references to transgender, queer, and intersex people from various governmental websites and documents. Erik Bottcher, a New York Councilperson, has criticized these moves, arguing that they attempt to erase the existence of trans individuals and divide the LGBTQ community.
Prominent figures and groups within the LGBTQ community have voiced their opposition. Angelica Christina, Board Director of the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, condemned the NPS’s actions and the broader government stance. She emphasized the significant contributions of trans women of color to the LGBTQ liberation movement, stating, ‘Pride would not exist without trans people.’
The executive orders limiting transgender rights have coincided with other governmental actions that restrict healthcare access, participation in sports, and military service for transgender individuals. These policies have led to confusion and challenges for institutions that support the transgender community.
As news of the NPS’s webpage changes spread, community members began gathering at the Stonewall Inn, indicating the potential for upcoming protests. This reaction underscores the monument’s enduring role as a symbol of resistance and solidarity in the fight for LGBTQ rights.
The recent changes to the Stonewall National Monument webpage reflect a broader trend in federal policy aimed at reducing the visibility and recognition of transgender and queer people. As the community rallies in response, the monument remains a critical site for advocacy and remembrance in the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ rights.
