Trump’s Latest Move Sparks Nationwide Outrage—Here’s Why People Are Taking to the Streets
Something unprecedented is happening across the country. Protests have erupted in major cities, civil rights organizations are mobilizing, and legal battles are already underway. Outrage is spreading as people demand answers, accusing the administration of erasing history and stripping away fundamental rights.
In the heart of New York City, a historic site has become the epicenter of controversy. Government websites have been quietly altered, words removed, and a narrative rewritten. For many, this isn’t just a political decision—it’s a direct attack on decades of progress.
At the center of it all is Executive Order 14168, a sweeping directive signed by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025. This executive order mandates that all federal agencies adhere to a strict binary definition of sex, eliminating recognition of transgender and non-binary identities across government resources. It also requires the removal of any references to gender diversity initiatives and halts funding for programs supporting LGBTQ+ rights.
One of the most shocking consequences? The National Park Service (NPS) has quietly rewritten the official website of the Stonewall National Monument, erasing all references to transgender individuals and stripping the LGBTQ+ acronym down to just “LGB.” This monument, established by President Barack Obama in 2016, honors the pivotal 1969 Stonewall Uprising—a landmark event in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. But under Trump’s directive, the historical narrative has been altered, omitting the transgender activists who played a critical role in the movement.
The updated text now reads:
“Before the 1960s, almost everything about living openly as a lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) person was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969, is a milestone in the quest for LGB civil rights and provided momentum for a movement.”
This deliberate omission has ignited fierce backlash, with activists, historians, and political leaders condemning the move as an attempt to rewrite history and erase the contributions of transgender individuals.
The Backlash: Protests and Political Firestorm
Almost immediately, the decision triggered a wave of public outcry. Protests erupted outside the Stonewall National Monument, with demonstrators decrying the revision as an assault on historical truth and transgender rights.
- E. Garcia, a protester at the site, stated: “You can’t erase trans people—especially from Stonewall. This is an attempt to rewrite history, and we won’t stand for it.”
- Another demonstrator, Meghan, called the change a “slap in the face,” adding: “If the queer community hadn’t been there for me, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Public officials were quick to weigh in. New York Governor Kathy Hochul denounced the move as “cruel and petty,” emphasizing that transgender activists were central figures in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Congressman Jerrold Nadler, whose district includes the Stonewall Inn, called the change “an attack on the truth, on the transgender community, and on America’s core values of justice and equality.”
A Broader Attack on Transgender Rights
The changes to the Stonewall National Monument’s website are just one piece of a larger, aggressive effort by the Trump administration to roll back transgender rights. Other policies recently enacted include:
- Banning transgender women from participating in women’s sports
- Mandating that transgender female prisoners be moved to male prisons
- Rolling back protections for transgender military service members
- Stripping transgender-specific health information from federal websites
The legal and civil rights implications of these actions have already led to multiple lawsuits, with advocacy groups arguing that these policies violate constitutional protections of equal rights and due process.
The Historical Significance of Stonewall
For many, the decision to erase transgender contributions from the Stonewall National Monument is particularly egregious because it distorts one of the most pivotal moments in LGBTQ+ history.
The Stonewall Uprising of 1969 began on June 28, 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a well-known gay bar in Greenwich Village, New York City. Raids like this were common at the time, but this time, the LGBTQ+ community fought back, leading to days of protests and riots.
Key figures in the uprising included transgender women of color, such as Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, who helped spark the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Their activism paved the way for organizations like the Gay Liberation Front and the first-ever Pride March.
By removing transgender references from the Stonewall National Monument, critics argue that the Trump administration is deliberately whitewashing history to align with its political agenda.
Legal Challenges and the Fight Ahead
In response to Executive Order 14168, civil rights organizations, including the ACLU and Lambda Legal, have vowed to challenge the order in court, arguing that it violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers are pushing for legislation that would prevent historical landmarks from being altered for political purposes.
Supporters of Trump’s order, however, applaud the move, claiming it is necessary to prevent the government from promoting “radical gender ideology.”
Conclusion: The Battle Over LGBTQ+ History and Rights Continues
The Trump administration’s decision to erase transgender references from the Stonewall National Monument is shaping up to be one of the biggest flashpoints in the ongoing battle over LGBTQ+ rights.
While supporters claim it restores a biological interpretation of gender, critics see it as a dangerous attempt to erase history and silence transgender voices.
With lawsuits mounting, protests growing, and political leaders clashing over the issue, the fate of Executive Order 14168 could set a major precedent for LGBTQ+ rights in the years to come.
