Fact Check: "Trans pride flag excluded from Stonewall Pride display this year."
What We Know
The claim that the "Trans pride flag was excluded from the Stonewall Pride display this year" appears to be rooted in a broader context of changes to how transgender identities are represented in relation to the Stonewall National Monument. Reports indicate that the National Park Service (NPS) has removed references to transgender people from its website concerning the Stonewall National Monument, which commemorates the pivotal 1969 Stonewall Riots that were instrumental in the LGBTQ+ rights movement (AP News, ABC News).
In addition to the website changes, it has been reported that the transgender pride flag will not be part of this year's Pride display at the national park near the Stonewall Inn, which typically showcases various LGBTQ+ flags (Gothamist). This exclusion has sparked outrage among LGBTQ+ activists and community leaders, who argue that it undermines the historical contributions of transgender individuals to the movement (ABC News).
Analysis
The evidence surrounding this claim suggests a significant alteration in how transgender identities are represented in the context of the Stonewall National Monument. The removal of the "T" from LGBTQ+ on the NPS website and the exclusion of the transgender pride flag from the Pride display both indicate a trend toward diminishing the visibility of transgender individuals within the narrative of LGBTQ+ history (AP News, ABC News).
Critics of these changes, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul and representatives from the Stonewall Inn, have condemned the actions as "cruel and petty," arguing that they erase the vital role transgender individuals, particularly transgender women of color, played in the Stonewall Riots and the broader fight for LGBTQ+ rights (AP News, ABC News). The National Parks Conservation Association has also emphasized that such erasure does not alter the historical contributions of the transgender community (ABC News).
However, it is important to note that while the transgender pride flag is not included in this year's display, the NPS website still contains some references to transgender individuals and their contributions to the LGBTQ+ movement. This suggests that while there is a notable exclusion, it may not be absolute (ABC News).
Conclusion
The claim that the "Trans pride flag was excluded from the Stonewall Pride display this year" is Partially True. While the transgender pride flag will indeed not be part of this year's display, the broader context of the NPS's actions—including the removal of transgender references from its website—highlights an ongoing struggle for representation within the LGBTQ+ community. The exclusion reflects a significant concern among activists regarding the visibility and acknowledgment of transgender contributions to LGBTQ+ history, but it does not completely erase all references to transgender individuals from the monument's narrative.
