Amid heightened political debate over LGBTQ+ representation, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at securing the Pride flag’s status at the Stonewall National Monument. According to CBS News, the proposed bill would designate the Pride flag as a congressionally authorized symbol to prevent its removal.
The announcement follows the removal of the Pride flag, which was later raised again by local leaders and activists, as per PIX 11. The Stonewall National Monument, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising and is widely recognized as the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, has become the focus of the dispute.
Schumer said the Pride flag represents more than a symbolic display and emphasized the need for legal protections to ensure it remains in place. He also criticized the Trump administration’s actions following the flag’s removal and called for the decision to be reversed.
Local advocates also expressed support for the proposed legislation. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Manhattan’s first openly LGBTQ borough president, told CBS News that the Pride flag holds deep significance for the community and referenced the movement’s origins in June 1969 at Stonewall when discussing the flag’s removal.
The Department of the Interior said the flag’s removal was consistent with longstanding federal flag policy. Schumer, joined by local officials and Rep. Dan Goldman in the House, said he intends to pursue legislation to formally authorize the Pride flag at the site. He has also suggested exploring whether control of Christopher Park could be transferred from the federal government to New York City, which could allow the flag to remain in place at the Stonewall National Monument.
