Trump Administration to Keep Pride Flag at Stonewall National Monument

The Trump administration agreed on April 13, 2026, to return and permanently maintain a rainbow Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City. The decision reverses a previous action taken in February 2026 to remove the banner from the federal site.

The agreement was reached as the administration seeks to settle a lawsuit filed by various LGBTQ+ and historic preservation groups. While the terms have been outlined in court settlement papers, the agreement still requires approval from a judge.

Terms of the Settlement

Under the terms of the settlement, the National Park Service must return the rainbow flag to the monument’s official flagpole within seven days of the agreement. The administration has committed to maintaining the flag at the site permanently.

According to court documents, the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service have confirmed their intention to keep the Pride flag at the location. The flag will not be removed except for maintenance or other practical purposes.

The settlement specifies the exact configuration of the flags to be flown at the monument. The National Park Service will hang three flags on the flagpole, with each measuring 3 feet by 5 feet. The Pride flag will be positioned between the United States flag and the National Park Service flag.

Background of the Removal

The Pride flag was removed from the site in February 2026. Reports indicate the removal occurred around February 10 and February 12, 2026. The National Park Service stated the removal was necessary to comply with Department of the Interior regulations, which mandate that federal flagpoles at park-run sites display only designated flags unless the flags in question provide specific historical context.

The removal of the flag sparked immediate protests from activists and led to the filing of lawsuits by nonprofit and historic preservation organizations. Some opponents of the removal responded by raising their own Pride flags at the monument site.

Legal and Historical Context

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit included the Gilbert Baker Foundation, named after the creator of the Pride flag. Charles Beal, president of the foundation, emphasized the importance of the banner’s presence at the site.

Its presence at Stonewall, the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, is both historically and culturally indispensable. Restoring the flag affirms the truth of our history and the legitimacy of our continued fight for dignity and inclusion.

Charles Beal, President of the Gilbert Baker Foundation

The Stonewall National Monument is the first national monument in the United States dedicated to LGBTQ+ history. It is located across from the Stonewall Inn, a historic gay bar where a 1969 police raid served as a catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.

The rainbow flag had been formally installed at the site in 2022 during the presidency of Joe Biden, following a years-long campaign by activists who advocated for the symbol to be flown daily at the National Park Service-run location.