Calls for Pride Progress flag to be raised at Stonewall National Monument

After the Pride flag outside the Stonewall National Monument was removed by the Trump administration and reinstated by the local community, some are calling for the Pride Progress flag to be used instead.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration quietly took down the Pride flag which flies from the Stonewall National Monument flagpole.

The site was officially awarded national monument status in 2016 by then-president Barack Obama and commemorates the historic 1969 riot outside the Stonewall Inn, an LGBTQ+ venue, which was led by trans women of colour in the early days of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

The National Park Service, the agency which oversees many national monuments across the US, said the decision to remove the Pride flag was taken by Trump administration following the implementation of a memorandum that stipulated only certain flags can be flown in public spaces where the National Park Service is responsible for the upkeep, maintenance, and operation of the flag and flagpole.

This includes the US flag, Department of Interior flag – National Park Service’s parent department – and POW/MIA flag.

Swiftly following the flag’s removal, the local LGBTQ+ community and New York City officials came together to reinstate the Pride flag and re-raised it on 12 February, with legislation subsequently proposed to ensure it permanently flies and Lambda Legal announcing it has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the removal.

Following the Gilbert Baker’s rainbow flag returning to its rightful place outside the Stonewall Inn, some have suggested it should instead have been replaced with the Pride Progress flag – a flag which is inclusive of intersex, trans and LGBTQ+ people of colour.

There are a range of LGBTQ+ Pride flags which represent various identities that fall under the LGBTQ+ umbrella, such as the trans flag and lesbian flag.

The Pride Progress flag was redesigned by intersex activist Valentino Vecchietti in 2021 to be more inclusive of intersex folks, whilst utilising the classic rainbow Pride flag and Daniel Quasar’s additional five-coloured chevron to ensure everyone is represented.

Speaking to The Guardian about the re-raising of the Pride flag, trans woman Chloe Elentári told the outlet it was a “half measure”.

“I want the progress flag so that we’re all included.”

Trans playwright Mika Kauffman also criticised the decision to use the older, rainbow flag design.

“It just felt extremely performative because it wasn’t an inclusive pride flag,” Kauffman said, as quoted by the outlet.

“Like, where are the trans colours? Trans people are dying, Black trans women and Brown women are the reason that our rights exist in the first [place]. What are we doing here?”

“It’s really not just about the flag; it’s about the fact that lives are at stake,” Xaddy Addy, a Black trans person added.

“When you put up the Progress flag, that means you are advocating for every single person under the scope, under the umbrella.”

Charley Beal, president of the Gilbert Baker Foundation, said they are supportive of the Progress flag being raised but expressed concern that in-fighting may divide the community.

“There are some activists that are concerned, and I’m just like, just be chill,” Beal said.

“I mean, we’re happy to get anything with at least six colours up there. You know what I mean?

“I will not get into flag wars, and I don’t think it’s worth the debate about this flag versus that flag, because I’ve been in these debates and it’s a reductive downward spiral.

“It’s never positive or affirming. People start taking sides.”

Kauffman, however, disagreed it would cause division in the community: “Trans people are just asking for human decency and respect. It is not a matter of infighting at all. It is a matter of visibility and support.

“We are simply trying to point out an issue that continually takes us backwards or keeps us stagnant rather than helping us move forward.”