Trans activists say traditional Pride flag at Stonewall falls short of true inclusion

Thousands gathered outside the Stonewall Inn last week to protest the Trump administration’s removal of the Pride flag from the national monument and to re-raise it. But trans activists say the decision to restore the traditional rainbow Pride flag, rather than the more inclusive Progress Pride flag, leaves out those most at risk.

The controversy began on 9 February, when the rainbow flag at Stonewall National Monument was removed without notice and replaced with a U.S. flag, following a Trump administration memo limiting which flags may fly at national parks and historic sites. The Interior Department insists the move is a neutral enforcement of longstanding policy, but activists say it fits a broader pattern of erasing queer and trans history.

Since Trump took office, the National Park Service has removed the Progress Pride flag from Stonewall, deleted references to transgender people from the monument’s website and overseen a series of anti-trans policies, including limiting federal recognition of gender to sex assigned at birth.

After days of protests, Democratic lawmakers re-raised the traditional rainbow flag on 12 February. As the Guardian reports, trans activists have objected to the decision not to restore the Progress flag, which includes the colors of the trans flag and black and brown stripes for queer people of color.

“It’s a half measure,” said trans activist Chloe Elentári. “I want the Progress flag so that we’re all included.” Playwright and trans activist Mika Kauffman added: “It just felt extremely performative because it wasn’t an inclusive pride flag. Trans people are dying. Black trans women and Brown women are the reason that our rights exist in the first place.”

On 17 February, several nonprofits filed a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s removal of the Pride flag at Stonewall and said they support raising the Progress Pride flag.

“Trans people were integral to the events of June 1969 that the Stonewall National Monument memorializes,” said Andrew Berman of Village Preservation. “Their erasure … has clearly been part of the federal government’s agenda.”

While Gilbert Baker Foundation president Charley Beal warned against “flag wars” and urged unity, trans advocates stressed that the issue is about survival, not symbolism. At least 27 transgender people were killed in violent attacks in the U.S. last year, according to Advocates 4 Trans Equality.

“It’s really not just about the flag; it’s about the fact that lives are at stake,” said Xaddy Addy, a Black trans person. “When you put up the Progress flag, that means you are advocating for every single person under the umbrella.”