Outrage erupted in New York City on Friday as hundreds of protesters gathered to condemn the U.S. government’s removal of references to transgender and queer people from the official website of the Stonewall National Monument.
The website, managed by the National Park Service, had previously highlighted the contributions of transgender and queer individuals in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. However, all mentions of “transgender” and “queer” were recently erased, reducing the acronym “LGBTQ” to “LGB.”
The change follows President Donald Trump’s executive order enforcing a strict binary definition of gender, recognizing only male and female identities. His administration has consistently targeted transgender rights, particularly in sports and gender-affirming healthcare for minors.
The Stonewall Inn, the site of the 1969 riots that launched the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, has long been recognized as a pivotal landmark for gender and sexual minorities. Protesters, carrying signs with messages such as “There’s no Stonewall without the T” and “Silence = Death”, condemned the move as an attempt to erase history.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul criticized the decision, calling it “cruel and petty.” She reaffirmed the state’s commitment to transgender rights, stating, “New York will never allow their contributions to be erased.”
As backlash grows, LGBTQ+ advocates are demanding that the National Park Service restore the original website content, warning that the administration’s policies are systematically undermining transgender rights across the country.
