New York politicians brazenly defied the Trump administration Thursday afternoon by planting a Pleasure flag on the Stonewall Nationwide Monument, escalating a conflict over federal efforts to strip LGBTQ+ symbols from the birthplace of the homosexual rights motion.
Rep. Dan Goldman and Rep. Jerry Nadler joined Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal to place up a brand new rainbow flag on a skinny versatile pole inside Christopher Park, days after the Nationwide Park Service yanked the LGBTQ banner from the federally-controlled space beneath steering from the Trump administration.
Dozens of advocates gathered to look at from the tiny park, with some accusing Donald Trump of making an attempt to erase LGBTQ+ historical past from a monument that commemorates the 1969 Stonewall rebellion.
“Our rights, not simply as Individuals however as people on this planet, is to be right here and coexist peacefully,” Sam Schulz, 39, advised a Publish reporter.
“When somebody is available in and takes down your flag that’s meant to memorialize individuals who fought for our rights, it’s only a slap within the face,” the Manhattanite added.
A spokesperson from the Division of the Inside mentioned “current changes” to federal flag coverage restrict which banners can fly on federal flagpoles, permitting solely the American flag and a small set of department-authorized flags “with restricted exceptions.”
A number of rowdy attendees yelled at organizers to burn the American flag that now flies on the monument.
“Take it down and burn it,” they angrily chanted.
After the politicians left, organizers proceeded to put the Pleasure flag stage with the American flag.
The Pleasure flag had flown repeatedly on the monument since 2022 and has been described by advocates as each an emblem of queer resistance and an “American image.”
“I feel it’s purposeful noise. It’s a sign to the queer group and the queer allies that we don’t belong right here,” Michael Chamberlain advised The Publish.
The 52-year-old grew up within the West Village.
“To erase us by taking the flag down is an indication that visibility is a chance, and we’re right here to clearly present that, with or with out the flag, the queer group gained’t be erased,” Chamberlain mentioned.
The Metropolis Council handed a decision, earlier Thursday, denouncing the federal elimination and calling on Congress to “respect the true historical past and significance” of nationwide park websites, particularly citing the Stonewall Nationwide Monument and its function in LGBTQ+ rights.
From the ground of Metropolis Corridor, the conflict took an unusually bitter flip with co-chair of the Metropolis Council’s LGBTQIA+ caucus Chi Ossé, who launched the decision, unleashing a tirade in regards to the president’s character and use of LGBTQ points in politics.
“There’s a pedophile of the USA who’s sitting within the White Home,” Ossé fumed. “Donald Trump is probably doing this to distract from the truth that he’s within the Epstein recordsdata. He’s making an attempt to rile us all up.”
“He’s attacking queer individuals, trans individuals, minorities that exist inside our society, to attempt to distract us from the truth that there are billionaires and pedophiles who’re being held unaccountable inside this nation,” he mentioned.
Queens Republican Councilmember Vicki Paladino was incensed over Ossé’s claims.
“It’s received nothing to do with Donald Trump. It’s received nothing to do with the Epstein recordsdata. It’s received to do with a complete lot greater than that,” mentioned Paladino, who didn’t vote in favor of the decision.
“To name our sitting president a pedophile is totally ludicrous and manner out of line. You’ll be able to take a look at the Epstein recordsdata and discover a complete lot of names apart from Trump,” Paladino snapped.
“They’re pedophiles too,” Ossé shot again inflicting Majority Chief Shaun Abreu to bang his gavel.
“I may tweet all I need or say no matter I need about former President Invoice Clinton and his beautiful spouse, however I don’t try this,” Paladino mentioned of the Clintons whose names additionally seem within the recordsdata. “For a colleague in council to deliver up the president on this disgusting manner isn’t crucial.”
Speaker Julie Menin despatched a letter to the Nationwide Parks Service this week demanding the return of the flag.
“We’re going to maintain preventing till the flag is returned,” she vowed from the ground Thursday. “The delight flag has lengthy symbolized battle, resilience and group and flying it sends a message to our metropolis, our nation and the world that LGBTQ historical past is American historical past.”
However there might not be a lot native politicians can do. New York Metropolis ceded management of the small Christopher Park parcel to the federal authorities when the location was designated a nationwide monument by President Obama in 2016.
However Chamberlain was not deterred.
“We and our allies will maintain exhibiting up,” he mentioned.
