The recent removal of transgender references from the Stonewall National Monument website has drawn backlash from activists and officials alike. Protests are ongoing near the historic site, as community leaders emphasize the critical role of transgender individuals in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
Controversy Erupts as Transgender References are Removed from Stonewall Monument Website
Controversy Erupts as Transgender References are Removed from Stonewall Monument Website
The alteration of the Stonewall National Monument website under the Trump administration has sparked protests, as activists call for transgender representation in LGBTQ+ history.
The Stonewall National Monument, located across from the Stonewall Inn in New York City, has recently been subject to significant changes under the Trump administration, which has removed references to transgender individuals from its official website. The National Park Service’s alteration of the LGBTQ+ acronym to solely represent lesbian, gay, and bisexual sets off alarm bells among activists who argue this erasure undermines the history and contributions of transgender people to the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
The changes came shortly after President Donald Trump issued an executive order on his first day in office, mandating a return to strict definitions of sex as only male and female. Activists quickly rallied against this decision, organizing protests on site to voice their outrage. “There is no Pride without Trans folks leading that fight!,” declared Stacy Lentz, co-owner of The Stonewall Inn, through a social media post announcing the gathering. “Trying to erase them from the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement will not happen!”
The National Park Service claims that these modifications were necessary to comply with the executive order, which they described as “restoring biological truth to the federal government,” according to a statement provided to the New York Times. A comparison of the previous website version preserved by the Wayback Machine reveals that the original wording included references to the LGBTQ+ community prior to the 1960s, which has now been revised to focus solely on LGB individuals.
While some references to transgender history remain intact on other sections of the website, the removal from the primary page is seen as a significant oversight. A statement from the Stonewall Inn and the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative condemned the changes, stating, "This blatant act of erasure not only distorts the truth of our history, but it also dishonours the immense contributions of transgender individuals."
Local officials also expressed dismay at the decision, with New York Governor Kathy Hochul deeming it "cruel and petty." The community remains stirred, with protests unfolding at the monument, where demonstrators held signs proclaiming, “you can't spell history without a T,” emphasizing the essential role of transgender people in the fight for equality. The Stonewall riots, sparked by a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in 1969, signify a watershed moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, underscoring the continued relevance of inclusive representation within these historical narratives.
