According to the filing, the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service confirmed their intent to maintain a Pride flag at the monument, with removal permitted only for maintenance or practical reasons. The agreement outlines that within one week of approval, three flags will be displayed on the monument’s flagpole: the United States flag, the Pride flag, and the National Park Service flag, each measuring three by five feet. The Pride flag will be positioned between the other two.
The dispute centers on the Stonewall National Monument in New York City, the first federally designated site recognizing LGBTQ+ history. The Pride flag was permanently installed in 2022 during President Joe Biden’s administration, symbolizing a broader federal commitment to representing diverse historical narratives. At the time, officials described the display as part of an effort to reflect the full scope of American history.
In February 2026, however, the National Park Service removed the Pride flag, citing compliance with federal guidelines issued on Tuesday, January 21, 2026. The guidance limited flag displays primarily to the U.S. flag, Department of the Interior flag, and POW/MIA flag, with certain exceptions for historical context. The removal prompted backlash from activists and local officials, who viewed the move as undermining the significance of the site.
Stonewall holds a central place in American civil rights history, commemorating the 1969 uprising at the nearby Stonewall Inn, which helped catalyze the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Established as a national monument in 2016, the site has since been at the center of ongoing debates over how history is represented at federally managed landmarks.
The administration’s reversal comes amid broader policy efforts to reassess diversity and inclusion initiatives across federal agencies, including national parks and museums.
