In a troubling move that has sparked outrage across the LGBTQ+ community, the National Park Service has removed references to “transgender” from its website for the Stonewall National Monument, erasing a vital part of LGBTQ+ history. The change, documented by the Wayback Machine internet archive, marks a significant rollback of inclusive language, sparking swift condemnation from activists, organizations, and public figures.
The Stonewall National Monument commemorates the historic 1969 Stonewall Uprising, a pivotal moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Until recently, the website acknowledged the contributions of transgender and queer individuals in the fight for equality. Now, the site limits its language to “lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB)”—an omission that whitewashes the legacy of transgender pioneers who stood on the front lines at Stonewall.
Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and countless other trans and gender-nonconforming activists were central to the Stonewall Uprising and the broader LGBTQ+ rights movement. They were not footnotes—they were leaders. Rivera and Johnson co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) and created the first LGBTQ+ youth shelter in North America. Their courage and commitment remain foundational to our movement.
But in a chilling echo of past efforts to erase transgender lives from public discourse, the NPS has stripped their contributions from the narrative. The page dedicated to Marsha P. Johnson on the NPS website has vanished, replaced by an error message. Sylvia Rivera’s page remains—for now.
“You Cannot Erase Trans People by Erasing a Letter”
The backlash was swift and fiery. LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, community leaders, and politicians condemned the erasure. A protest was held at the monument on Friday, attended by over 1,000.
In a powerful statement, Timothy Leonard, Northeast Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association, reaffirmed the truth that cannot be deleted from a webpage.
“Erasing letters or webpages does not change the history or the contributions of our transgender community members at Stonewall or anywhere else,” Leonard said in a statement. “History was made here and civil rights were earned because of Stonewall. And we’re committed to ensuring more people know that story and how it continues to influence America today. Stonewall inspires and our parks must continue to include diverse stories that welcome and represent the people that shaped our nation.”
Longtime LGBTQ activist and founder of the Philadelphia Gay News, Mark Segal pulled no punches in his response, calling this erasure a direct attack on the community.
“This petty, vindictive action is an attempt to not only erase trans people from public view, but also the entire LGBT community. Stonewall, including all of us in the LGBT community who fought back that historic night and have continued to fight for 55 years, cannot and will not be erased,” Segal said in a statement. “We will continue to fight, we will continue to be visible and persevere, and I urge all in our community to remember this day as the beginning of the second Stonewall rebellion.”
No Stonewall Without Trans People. No Pride Without Trans Rights.
The removal of transgender people from Stonewall’s story is more than an editing choice—it’s a dangerous step in a broader campaign of trans erasure from public life. Let’s be clear: there is no “LGB” without the “T.” The fight for queer liberation was forged by transgender hands, voices, and lives. Without the leadership of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, Pride itself would not exist.
The transgender community has been under relentless attack. This is not just a revision of a website; it is a revision of history. It is an insult to the legacy of those who bled, fought, and worked for our collective rights.
A Second Stonewall Rebellion
Mark Segal calls this moment “the beginning of the second Stonewall rebellion.” And he is right. The first rebellion was against police brutality and oppression. This one is against erasure—of our history, our people, and our truth.
Trans rights are queer rights. To erase trans history is to tear the heart out of our movement. We must answer this act of erasure with collective outrage and action. We must demand the immediate restoration of the inclusive language on the Stonewall National Monument website.
Because Stonewall is not just a monument. It is a battle cry. And we are still fighting.
There is no LGB without the T. PERIOD.
