In a move that has sparked widespread outrage, references to transgender Americans disappeared from the U.S. National Park Service website for the Stonewall National Monument, a site that commemorates the landmark 1969 uprising against police brutality that ignited the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. The removal of “T” from LGBTQ on the website has been perceived as an attack on transgender visibility and rights, prompting protests at the historic location.
The Alteration and Its Impact
On February 14, several hundred people gathered at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City, waving LGBTQ flags in defiance of what they saw as an attempt to erase the contributions of transgender individuals to the fight for equality. The monument’s website was first altered on February 13, reducing the LGBTQ+ acronym to “LGBQ+,” and later to just “LGB,” a term reminiscent of the pre-1990s era when transgender voices were often marginalized within the movement.
The abrupt alteration aligns with the policies of former President Donald Trump, who, on his first day in office, signed an executive order directing federal employees to refer only to “sex” and not “gender,” defining sex as an “immutable biological reality.” This order has fueled a series of anti-trans policies affecting military service, healthcare access, and participation in sports, many of which are now entangled in legal challenges. A federal judge, for instance, recently blocked the enforcement of Trump’s policy restricting healthcare access for transgender individuals.
Advocates view the website’s modification as part of a larger agenda to erase transgender identities from public discourse and historical recognition. “This is literally coming into our house and trying to erase trans people,” said Stacy Lentz, co-owner of the Stonewall Inn, emphasizing the symbolic importance of the site in the history of LGBTQ+ rights.
Neither the White House nor the National Park Service responded to requests for comment regarding the changes.
Stonewall’s Historical Significance and the Role of Trans Activists
The Stonewall Riots of 1969 are widely recognized as a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history, setting the stage for modern activism. Former President Barack Obama designated the site a national monument in 2016 to preserve its legacy, and a visitor center was inaugurated in 2024.
Historically, transgender pioneers like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera were instrumental in the resistance against police harassment during the Stonewall uprising. Their contributions laid the foundation for expanded rights within the LGBTQ+ movement. “The Stonewall Riots happened because trans people, particularly trans people of color, rose up against state violence. You can’t even begin to tell the story without our trans ancestors and elders,” said activist Raquel Willis on X (formerly Twitter).
The exclusion of transgender representation from the monument’s website is seen as a direct affront to this history, and for many, it represents a regressive step in the fight for equality.
The Protest and Public Response
The protest on February 14 drew more than 300 demonstrators, including activists, politicians, and concerned citizens. Among them was Del, a queer clinical psychologist from New Jersey who specializes in gender-affirming care. Del canceled their Valentine’s Day plans upon learning about the protest, stating, “It’s deadly for trans and LGBTQ youth, but it’s a problem for all youth because it is frightening to see your peers being targeted and erased.” Holding a brick in their hand, they stood at the monument as a symbolic tribute to the trans women who fought back against police brutality in 1969.
New York City Council member Erik Bottcher addressed the crowd, vowing resistance against the erasure of trans identities. “We are here to send a message to Donald Trump: We will not let you erase the existence of our trans siblings!” Bottcher declared.
The Broader Political Climate
Trump’s administration has made repeated efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, leading to the removal of various references to LGBTQ+ identities from government websites. On January 31, Trump himself declared, “I think DEI is dead, so if they want to scrub the websites, that’s OK with me.”
Public opinion on transgender rights remains polarized. While some polls indicate support for banning trans women from female sports, a majority of Americans oppose banning transgender individuals from serving in the military. Republican U.S. Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina has been an outspoken advocate for Trump’s policies, arguing that transgender rights should not come at the expense of recognizing biological sex. “Transgender individuals, like all Americans, have the same rights under the Constitution. But those rights don’t include forcing others to deny biological reality,” Mace stated to Reuters.
Resistance and Calls for Action
Activists argue that while Trump’s measures pose a serious threat to transgender rights, a lack of strong opposition from the Democratic Party and other allies has left trans individuals to defend themselves. “What Donald Trump and his sycophants are doing is essentially violence against trans people. It is essentially trying to erase us,” said Angelica Christina, a New York-based activist and board member of the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. “We will stand up against this oppression, but it is relentless.”
Many protesters at the rally expressed deep frustration with the targeted removal of transgender and queer identities from historical narratives. Retired teacher Dawn, who chose to share only her first name, emphasized the cruelty behind such decisions. “With all these battles to be fought, why would you focus on taking the trans and the queer out of this monument? It makes no sense. It’s mean, it’s cruel, it’s terrible.”
The erasure of transgender identities from the Stonewall National Monument website is more than just a symbolic change; it reflects a broader assault on trans rights in the U.S. The resistance shown at Stonewall is a reminder of the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community and the ongoing struggle against discriminatory policies.
As the fight for transgender equality continues, activists and allies alike vow to keep pushing back against efforts to silence and erase their history. The message from Stonewall remains clear: trans people are here to stay, and they will not be erased.
Source: Reuters.
