Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill Wednesday that would protect the Pride flag in national parks, including New York City’s Stonewall National Monument, after the Trump administration previously ordered its removal from historic LGBTQ+ landmarks.
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Announcement by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer last week He said he is drafting a bill that would codify federal protections for the flag. The move came after President Donald Trump prohibited its display Use on certain government lands, including national parks. This bill was introduced in house and senate Schumer, Sen. Kristen Gillibrand and Rep. Dan Goldman, all Democrats from New York, said Wednesday.
President Trump’s directive spurs the establishment of the Pride flag Removal from Stonewallthe historic site where riots against a police raid in 1969 propelled the gay rights movement. The property just outside the Stonewall Inn was designated a national monument under President Barack Obama. in 2016.
“Stonewall is a sacred site, and Congress must act now to protect the Pride flag forever,” Schumer said in a statement. “At the core of America’s identity is freedom and justice for all people, and that’s what this law protects: the ability for each national park to independently decide which flag it can fly.”
Related: Chuck Schumer drafts bill to protect Pride flag at national parks, including Stonewall Monument
The bill would give Congressional authorization to the Pride flag, allowing it to be displayed on federal land. The bill also condemns the removal of Stonewall’s Pride flag and calls for its restoration.
“President Trump’s removal of the Pride flag at Stonewall is just the latest in an endless series of unjust and cruel attacks on the LGBTQ+ community,” Goldman said Wednesday. “We are introducing legislation to make sure it can never be removed again.”
The flag in question has been flying at Stonewall since 2022, and its removal was met with swift backlash from New York City residents, civil rights groups and elected officials.
local leader raised a new pride flag at the monument site on February 12, despite President Trump’s orders. new york city council passed the resolution Condemning the removal of the national flag. and two federal lawsuits It challenged the federal government’s authority to completely remove the flag.
Related: Hundreds of people fill the streets near Stonewall as New York City residents raise Pride flags after President Trump ordered them removed.
The Stonewall banner was the first LGBTQ+ pride flag to be permanently flown on federal land.
“Stonewall is the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ movement, and the removal of the rainbow flag was a blatant attempt to erase our nation’s history,” Gillibrand said Wednesday. “We cannot allow such hateful acts to occur again.”
This article was written as part of The Advocate’s “Future of Queer Media” fellowship program. This program is morrison media group. This program helps support the next generation of LGBTQ+ journalists.
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