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By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
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Democrats have introduced new legislation aimed at protecting the Pride flag at Stonewall and across national parks after the Trump administration removed it.
The U.S Department of the Interior said its flag policy has been in place for decades, with recent guidance clarifying how it is applied across national parks, while stressing Stonewall’s history continues to be preserved through exhibits and programs.
An Interior Department spokesperson told Newsweek via email: “While we do not comment on congressional correspondence through the media, we would like to remind your readers that hundreds of families in New York City went without power during this year’s severe cold weather, people were found dead on the streets, and trash had piled up so high it towered over city residents.
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“This is Mayor Mamdani and Congressman Goldman's New York City. The political pageantry being displayed shows how utterly incompetent and misaligned the New York City officials are with the problems their city is facing.”
Why It Matters
The proposal follows a recent effort by the Trump administration to remove the Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument, a site central to LGBTQ+ history.
Lawmakers say the move reflects broader tensions over how federal land and national symbols are treated.
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What To Know
A new bill introduced in Congress would formally authorize the Pride flag for display at units of the National Park System, including the Stonewall National Monument in New York.
The legislation is intended to “protect the Pride flag from future attacks and removal” by making clear that the flag is eligible to fly on federal parkland.
It was introduced by Representative Dan Goldman of New York, with support from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York.
Announcing the proposal, a press release from Goldman's office says that the bill is designed to “make the Pride flag a congressionally authorized flag, protecting it from future attacks from the Trump administration.”
According to its summary, the bill would designate the Pride flag as an authorized flag and express the sense of Congress that it should be displayed at Stonewall, widely regarded as the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Supporters say the legislation is a direct response to the Trump administration’s attempted removal of the flag from the Stonewall monument.
A January 21 memorandum from the Interior Department, which oversees the National Park Service, laid out new “guidance to superintendents and site managers on policies and procedures for the display and flying of non-agency flags and pennants.”
Under the guidance, only U.S. flags, agency flags and the POW/MIA flag are generally permitted at national parks, though the memo lists several exemptions, including for flags that “provide historical context.”
The memo also made clear that Interior Department flagpoles are “not intended to serve as a forum for free expression by the public.”
Instead, it said, “approved non-agency flags and pennants may be flown as an expression of the Federal Government’s official sentiments.”
After that action, Goldman and others traveled to the site to raise the flag again, arguing that its presence reflects both historical reality and contemporary values.
The bill, known as H.R. 7659, was introduced in the House on February 24 and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources, which has jurisdiction over the National Park System.
It is at an early stage in the legislative process and has not yet advanced out of committee.
What People Are Saying
Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement: “The Pride flag represents generations of Americans who fought to be seen, heard, and protected under our nation’s promise of liberty. HRC is working toward a future where our children feel just as safe surrounded by the American flag as they do by Pride flags. With Senator Schumer’s leadership, that work begins anew today. This is not about politics or identities — it’s about ensuring our history fully reflects who we are as a country.”
Human Rights Campaign national press secretary Brandon Wolf said in a statement: “Bad news for the Trump administration: these colors don't run. The Stonewall Inn & Visitors Centers are still privately owned, their flags are still flying high, and that community is still just as queer today as it was yesterday. While their policy agenda throws the country into chaos, the Trump administration is obsessed with trying to suffocate the joy and pride that Americans have for their communities. For over a year, they've been on a witch hunt, targeting rainbow crosswalks, pride flags, Black Lives Matter murals, and throwing a tantrum about a Super Bowl performance they couldn't control. But they will fail.”
Representative Dan Goldman said in a news release: “President Trump’s removal of the Pride flag at Stonewall was just the latest in an endless series of gratuitous and cruel attacks on the LGBTQ+ community. The day after his administration removed the flag, we went to Stonewall to put it right back up.
“Now, we’re introducing legislation to make sure it can’t be taken down again. This legislation will guarantee that the Pride flag can fly again as a symbol of justice and equality for all - at Stonewall, and at all national parks across our country. We will not let Donald Trump erase history.”
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said: “Stonewall stands as a beacon of hope for the LGBTQ community—a reminder of the resilience and perseverance of those before us who fought for the rights they deserve. Stonewall is sacred ground and Congress must act now to permanently protect the pride flag and what it stands for.
“Trump’s hateful crusade must end. The very core of American identity is liberty and justice for all – and that is what this legislation would protect: each national park’s ability to make their own decision about what flag can be flown. Attempts to hurt New York and the LGTBQ community simply won’t fly, but the Stonewall Pride flag always will.”
New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said: “Stonewall is the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ movement, and removing the rainbow flag was a blatant attempt to erase our nation’s history.
“We can’t let this sort of hateful act happen ever again. The strength and resilience of LGBTQ+ Americans, and those who stand with them, will not be erased. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation to protect the Pride flag and those it represents, and I will continue to stand up to the Trump administration’s repeated attacks on the LGBTQ+ community.”
The Department of the Interior said in a statement earlier this month: “The policy governing flag displays on federal property has been in place for decades. Recent guidance clarifies how that longstanding policy is applied consistently across NPS-managed sites.”
It added: “Stonewall National Monument continues to preserve and interpret the site’s historic significance through exhibits and programs.”
What Happens Next
The bill will now be considered by the House Natural Resources Committee, where lawmakers can hold hearings or make changes before any possible floor vote.
Update 2/26/26, 11:24 a.m. ET: This article was updated with statements from the Human Rights Campaign.
Update 2/26/26, 11:52 a.m. ET: This article was updated with a statement from the Department of the Interior.
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