The Erasure of Transgender History at Stonewall National Monument
A Devastating Blow to LGBTQ+ Representation
In a move that has sparked widespread outrage and disbelief, references to transgender people were removed from the National Park Service website for the Stonewall National Monument in New York. This historic site commemorates the 1969 Stonewall riots, a pivotal event in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. The changes were made following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day in office, which mandated that the federal government define sex as only male or female. This decision has been condemned by advocates, politicians, and historians alike, who argue that it erases the critical role transgender individuals played in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, expressed her dismay on social media, calling the action “cruel and petty” and affirming that New York would never allow the contributions of transgender people to be erased. The Stonewall National Monument, located in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, is situated across the street from the Stonewall Inn, the bar where the uprising began. On June 28, 1969, gay and transgender patrons, along with neighborhood residents, fought back against a police raid, marking a turning point in the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights.
The Alarming Erasure of LGBTQ+ History
The National Park Service website, while still featuring information about the Stonewall uprising, including photographs of transgender activists, removed the words “transgender” and “queer” from its text. Additionally, the letters “T” and “Q” were excised from references to the LGBTQ+ acronym, replacing them with phrases such as the “LGB rights movement” or “LGB civil rights.” This deliberate alteration has been met with fierce criticism from representatives of the Stonewall Inn and The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, a nonprofit organization associated with the historic bar.
Organizers from these groups released a statement denouncing the changes as a “blatant act of erasure” that distorts history and dishonors the contributions of transgender individuals, particularly transgender women of color, who were instrumental in the Stonewall riots and the broader LGBTQ+ rights movement. Stacy Lentz, CEO of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative and a co-owner of The Stonewall Inn, described the changes as an attempt to “cis-wash” LGBTQ+ history by denying the existence and contributions of transgender people. She emphasized the alarming nature of this revisionist effort.
Angelica Christina, a board director of the initiative and a transgender woman, noted that while such actions were not surprising given the Trump administration’s history of targeting the transgender community, it was particularly shocking to see the Stonewall National Monument singled out. “The West Village, and especially the Stonewall Inn, has always been a safe haven for the LGBT community,” she said, highlighting the profound significance of the site.
The Historical Significance of Stonewall
The Stonewall National Monument is more than just a physical site; it represents a cornerstone of LGBTQ+ history and identity. Designated as a national monument by President Barack Obama in 2016, it stands as a testament to the courage and resilience of those who fought for equality in the face of oppression. The monument’s website previously acknowledged the illegality of living openly as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+) person before the 1960s. However, following the recent changes, the text was altered to exclude transgender and queer individuals, rewriting history to reflect only “LGB” identities.
This revision is deeply concerning, as it undermines the inclusivity and accuracy that historical preservation efforts should strive for. The National Park Service, tasked with protecting and preserving America’s most cherished places, has a responsibility to educate visitors about the full and inclusive history of the country. By erasing transgender contributions, the agency is failing in its mission to represent the diverse experiences that have shaped American society.
The Broader Implications of the Executive Order
The changes to the Stonewall National Monument’s website are part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to roll back LGBTQ+ rights and recognition. The executive order signed by President Trump defines sex as immutable and binary, based on biological characteristics such as whether a person is born with eggs or sperm. This definition dismisses the scientific consensus that gender exists on a spectrum and is not limited to male and female. Conservative groups, such as the American Family Association, have praised the order, framing it as a measure to “protect women” from “gender extremism.”
However, medical and psychological experts, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association, have consistently affirmed that gender is not a binary construct. They recognize that individuals’ gender identities may not align with the sex they were assigned at birth and stress the importance of respecting and affirming these identities. By ignoring this scientific understanding, the Trump administration is advancing a harmful and discriminatory agenda that marginalizes transgender and non-binary individuals.
The Response from Advocacy Groups and Allies
The removal of transgender references from the Stonewall National Monument’s website has been met with fierce resistance from advocacy groups, LGBTQ+ allies, and the broader community. Timothy Leonard, Northeast program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association, a nonprofit organization that advocates for national parks, emphasized that erasing letters or webpages does not change history or the contributions of the transgender community. “The National Park Service exists to not only protect and preserve our most cherished places but to educate its millions of annual national park visitors about the inclusive, full history of America,” he said.
Leonard’s statement underscores the importance of preserving the truth and ensuring that all voices are represented in the telling of American history. The Stonewall National Monument, in particular, holds a special significance as a symbol of resistance and hope for the LGBTQ+ community. Last year, a $3.2 million visitor center funded primarily by private donations, with support from the National Park Service’s charitable arm, opened at the site to provide a deeper understanding of the Stonewall story. This center serves as a vital resource for educating visitors about the monument’s history, making the recent erasures even more disheartening.
The Fight for Inclusion and Accuracy
The controversy over the Stonewall National Monument’s website highlights the ongoing struggle for inclusion and recognition within the LGBTQ+ community. The erasure of transgender identities from historical narratives is not just a symbolic attack; it has real-world consequences, as it perpetuates discrimination and invalidates the lived experiences of transgender individuals. By removing references to transgender people, the National Park Service is complicit in this erasure, undermining the progress that has been made toward equality and acceptance.
Advocates are urging the Biden administration to reverse the Trump-era executive order and restore the inclusive language to the Stonewall National Monument’s website. They argue that the federal government has a responsibility to honor and celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community, rather than attempting to erase it. The Stonewall riots were a testament to the power of collective action and the unwavering determination of marginalized individuals to fight for their rights. By preserving the accurate history of these events, we can ensure that future generations understand the struggles and triumphs of the LGBTQ+ community and continue to push for a more inclusive and equitable society.
In conclusion, the removal of transgender references from the Stonewall National Monument’s website is a disservice to history and a betrayal of the principles of equality and inclusion that the monument represents. It is a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community and the importance of vigilance in protecting hard-won rights. By standing together and advocating for truth and accuracy, we can ensure that the contributions of all individuals, regardless of gender identity, are honored and preserved for generations to come.
