Outrage sparked as the National Park Service's website for the Stonewall National Monument underwent a controversial modification. "LGBTQ" was shortened to "LGB", effectively excluding transgender and queer individuals from the site's language. This change follows President Donald Trump's executive order mandating that the federal government only recognize two sexes, as reported by CBS News.
Protests erupted outside the landmark in New York City, recognized as the birthplace of a modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Demonstrators vocalized a strong message, refusing to be pushed back into the shadows. "This building is run by National Park Service. So I don't know how much erasure is going to take place in that building and then they're going to be here, ostensibly representing our communities, and if they remove the important part that trans and gender-non-conforming people have played in all of our movements, especially in this city, then it'll be a farce," Jay Walker of Gays Against Guns told CBS News.
Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the action as "cruel and petty," emphasizing that "transgender people play a critical role in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights," in a statement that resonated throughout social media platforms. Protesters and advocates maintain that the struggle for visibility and inclusivity is far from over, with Cathy Renna of the LGBTQ Task Force declaring to ABC7NY, "The pendulum swings both ways and progress is not linear. We're not going anywhere."
Despite the acronym change on the website, transgender advocates such as Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson are still recognized at the physical site. "It was trans women of color, trans women like Sylvia, Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, trans women that put their lives on the line, that stood on the front lines of this revolution. They are the reason why we have the rights that we have today, not just for trans people, but for LGBT people in general," Angelica Christina, a board member of the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, emphasized in comments to CBS News.
The Stonewall Inn, now operating under official monument status since 2016, has stood as a symbol of resistance and progress since the 1969 uprisings. While the federal stance may have shifted, the determination of the community and allies to prevent erasure of their history is unwavering. "We're going to do everything we can, especially with our nonprofit that fights for equality all over the globe, Stonewall Gives Back Initiative, to make sure that people know that we're not going to tolerate this. Progress and civil rights, LGBTQ rights have never been made by being silent, and we're not going to be silent," Stonewall Inn co-owner Stacy Lentz stated in an interview with CBS News.
