The Stonewall National Monument website, which commemorates a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history, has come under fire as the Trump administration has removed references to transgender people. The National Park Service's updated website now shortens the acronym LGBTQ+ to LGB, which stands for lesbian, gay, and bisexual, reflecting an executive order signed by President Trump recognizing only male and female genders on his first day in office.
Activists quickly denounced the change, organizing a protest at the landmark site, which is the first national monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights. Stacy Lentz, co-owner of the Stonewall Inn, took to Instagram to express outrage over the changes, stating, “There is no Pride without Trans folks leading that fight! Trying to erase them from the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement will not happen!”
The National Park Service cited compliance with federal guidelines for the changes, insisting they were restoring "biological truth." The earlier version of the website described the lifestyle of LGBTQ+ individuals before the 1960s, but the revised text now omits transgender individuals. While some references to transgender history remain, the public response has been overwhelmingly negative.
Both the Stonewall Inn and the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative issued statements expressing their outrage, highlighting that this erasure not only misrepresents history but also disrespects the significant contributions made by transgender individuals. New York Governor Kathy Hochul added that the alterations were "cruel and petty."
During Friday's protest, demonstrators showcased signs proclaiming, "National Park Service you can't spell history without a T," emphasizing their demand for the visibility of transgender people within the narrative of LGBTQ+ rights. The changes reflect ongoing tensions surrounding LGBT rights in the United States, particularly regarding the recognition and representation of transgender individuals.
