The city of Philadelphia sued the Department of the Interior and the acting director of the National Park Service on Thursday over reports that slavery exhibits were being dismantled in the city’s historic district.
The suit, filed in federal court, seeks a preliminary injunction to restore the exhibits at the President’s House Site, part of Independence National Historical Park.
The lawsuit says that “the National Park Service has removed artwork and informational displays at the President’s House site referencing slavery, presumably pursuant to the mandate” of Executive Order no. 14253, which President Donald Trump signed in March.
The city said in the suit that it learned Thursday that the educational panels that referred to slavery had been removed.
“Removing the exhibits is an effort to whitewash American history,” Philadelphia City council President Kenyatta Johnson said in a statement Thursday. “History cannot be erased simply as it is indeed uncomfortable. Removing items from the President’s House merely changes the landscape, not the historical record.”
NBC Philadelphia aired video Thursday that shows people with crowbars taking down panels, one of which reads “The Dirty Business of Slavery.”
The suit says the city was given no notice about the change to the President’s House.
it calls the removal of the displays “arbitrary and capricious.”
“Defendants have provided no explanation at all for their removal of the historical, educational displays at the President’s House site, let alone a reasoned one,” the lawsuit says.“`html
The struggle for LGBTQ+ rights – encompassing legal recognition, social acceptance, and protection from persecution – has been a decades-long global movement, marked by notable progress alongside persistent challenges and ongoing discrimination. As of January 23, 2026, the landscape of LGBTQ+ rights varies dramatically across the world, with some nations enacting comprehensive protections while others maintain discriminatory laws and practices.
Historical Context of LGBTQ+ Rights
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the fight for LGBTQ+ rights is a relatively recent, though deeply rooted, phenomenon in modern history. Historically, same-sex sexual activity was often criminalized and stigmatized across many cultures. The modern LGBTQ+ rights movement began to coalesce in the mid-20th century.
The Stonewall Riots in New York City in 1969 (National Park Service) are widely considered a pivotal moment, sparking increased activism and institution within the gay community. Early efforts focused on decriminalization of homosexual acts and challenging societal discrimination.
Example: In 1973, Denmark became the first country to remove homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses. (Britannica)
Early Legal Battles and Decriminalization
Decriminalization of homosexual acts was a primary goal in the early stages of the movement. Many countries retained laws criminalizing same-sex relations, frequently enough inherited from colonial periods.
Detail: The United Kingdom decriminalized homosexual acts between consenting adults in 1967 with the passage of the Sexual Offences Act 1967. (UK legislation) However, this law did not apply to Northern Ireland until 1982.
Example: The American psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in 1973, a landmark decision that helped shift public perception. (Psychology Today)
The Fight for Marriage Equality
Marriage equality became a central focus of the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Advocates argued that denying same-sex couples the right to marry constituted discrimination and violated principles of equal protection under the law.
Detail: The Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001. (Netherlands Government) This was followed by Belgium (2003), Canada (2005), Spain (2005), and South Africa (2006).
Example: In the United States, the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) that the right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples. (Supreme Court of the United States) This decision legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
Current Status of Marriage Equality (as of January 23, 2026)
As of january 23, 2026, over 30 countries have legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. (Wikipedia – continually updated,use with caution,cross-reference with other sources) However,many countries still do not recognize same-sex marriage,and some actively prohibit it.
Breaking News Check (January
