In a victory for the LGBTQ+ community and allies, the Trump administration has been ordered to restore the rainbow Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument following a legal settlement with LGBTQ advocacy groups, reversing a controversial decision that drew national backlash.
Under the agreement announced Monday, the federal government will reinstall the flag on the monument’s official flagpole within seven days and allow it to remain permanently, according to court filings and statements from advocates.
The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed after the flag was removed in February, a move critics said targeted LGBTQ representation at a site widely recognized as the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement.
The monument, located in New York City’s Greenwich Village, commemorates the 1969 uprising that became a defining moment in LGBTQ history. The Pride flag had been displayed there as a symbol of that legacy until it was taken down by federal officials citing flag policy restrictions.
In a statement, Lambda Legal attorney Karen Loewy called the removal “arbitrary” and said the agreement ensures the flag’s return. “Today, the government has pledged to restore this important symbol back to where it belongs,” Loewy said.
Attorneys representing the plaintiffs said the settlement affirms that the Pride flag is permitted under federal policy because of its historical significance at the site. “The Pride flag belongs at Stonewall,” said Alexander Kristofcak of Washington Litigation Group.
Local officials and advocates also framed the outcome as a broader victory for LGBTQ visibility. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal described the decision as a win for representation after what he called an attempt to erase queer history.
The lawsuit was filed just days after the flag’s removal by organizations including Lambda Legal, the Gilbert Baker Foundation, Equality New York and Village Preservation. Plaintiffs argued the removal violated federal policy, which allows historically relevant flags to be displayed at national monuments.
As part of the settlement, the court will retain jurisdiction to enforce the agreement, ensuring compliance by the National Park Service. The Pride flag is expected to fly alongside the American flag and the National Park Service flag at the site.
The decision marks a notable reversal by the administration amid ongoing debates over how LGBTQ history is represented at federally managed sites.
