President Donald Trump is facing intense backlash over a controversial executive order that has resulted in significant changes to the historical description of New York’s Stonewall National Monument. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and LGBTQ+ advocates, are condemning the decision as “cruel and petty,” arguing that it erases a critical part of the LGBTQ+ movement’s history. The changes have sparked a heated debate over the inclusion of transgender people in the narrative of civil rights history.
On February 13, 2025, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that it had removed all references to “transgender” individuals from the official website of the Stonewall National Monument. This change follows an executive order signed by President Trump on his first day back in office, which was part of a broader initiative to “restore biological truth to the federal government,” according to the White House. Critics, however, view the order as an attempt to diminish the contributions of transgender activists in the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
The Stonewall National Monument, located in the heart of Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, was established in 2016 to honor the Stonewall Uprising of 1969. The uprising, which was a critical turning point in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, saw both gay and transgender individuals take a stand against police harassment. The monument has long been a symbol of the struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community, particularly in relation to the fight for equal rights and acceptance.
In the original description of the Stonewall Uprising, the website acknowledged the involvement of transgender individuals in the rebellion. It recognized the contributions of trans activists like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, who played pivotal roles in the uprising. However, following Trump’s executive order, the website’s revised version omits any mention of transgender people, reducing the movement to a narrative primarily focused on gay and lesbian individuals. The term “LGBTQ” has also been shortened to “LGB,” further erasing the identities of transgender individuals in the historical context.
The updated website now reads: “Before the 1960s, almost everything about living openly as a lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB) person was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969, is a milestone in the quest for LGB civil rights and provided momentum for a movement.” This revision has been widely criticized for not only excluding transgender people but also for misrepresenting the full scope of the Stonewall Uprising’s significance.
Transgender advocates and allies have expressed outrage, arguing that the changes are an attempt to rewrite history and undermine the contributions of transgender individuals to the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Marsha P. Johnson, a Black transgender woman and prominent activist, is widely regarded as one of the key figures in the Stonewall Uprising, yet her legacy and the struggles of the transgender community have been diminished in the updated narrative.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a vocal critic of the changes, took to X (formerly Twitter) to denounce the decision, calling it “cruel and petty.” She added, “Transgender people play a critical role in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights – and New York will never allow their contributions to be erased.” The governor’s statement reflects a growing sentiment among LGBTQ+ advocates who believe that the move is an attempt to rewrite history to fit a more conservative agenda.
The decision has sparked widespread backlash, not only from LGBTQ+ advocates but also from Democratic lawmakers. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York called the changes “a direct attack on the truth” and accused the Trump administration of attempting to erase the reality of transgender history. He emphasized that the Stonewall Uprising was not just a moment for gay rights but a pivotal event that included transgender voices and experiences.
Critics argue that the decision undermines the progress that has been made in recognizing the contributions of transgender individuals, particularly in the context of the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Transgender people have long been at the forefront of the struggle for equality, and erasing their role in key moments of history is seen as a deliberate attempt to erase their identities and contributions.
