Schumer Moves to FEDERALIZE the Pride Flag After Rainbow Banner Removed from Stonewall Monument — Plans Bill to Make It a Congressionally Authorized U.S. Flag
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is reportedly preparing to introduce radical legislation that would effectively federalize the Pride Flag.
The uproar began when a large Pride flag was taken down from the federal monument in Greenwich Village that honors the 1969 Stonewall riots, the event widely recognized as the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ civil-rights movement.
Federal officials said the removal of the rainbow banner was to enforce longstanding rules limiting flags on National Park Service flagpoles to those officially authorized, namely the U.S. flag and certain others.
Outrage among Democrats was immediate. New York officials and activists re-raised the Pride flag days later in defiance of federal policy. The episode has now been seized upon by Schumer and allies in Congress as justification for a sweeping legislative grab.
Schumer, joined by Rep. Dan Goldman in the House, says he will introduce a bill to make the Pride flag a congressionally authorized national symbol that cannot be removed from federal monuments or properties.
Under the draft language reported in local outlets, the legislation would designate the rainbow banner as protected under federal flag law, giving it the same status as other flags sanctioned by Congress.
Schumer: “So, folks, we’re here, of course, at Stonewall, which is the birthplace of the LGBTQ+ movement. This sacred ground represents courage, resiliency, and the fight for equality, which always goes on in America.
This sacred ground is so important. In 1969, as everybody knows, brave New Yorkers stood up here in an act of resistance against discrimination. It sparked the beginning of a movement that changed America and the world forever. And we’re not going back. We’re not going back.
The Trump administration’s removal of the Pride rainbow flag from the Stonewall National Monument is a deeply outrageous action that must be reversed. It’s an effing disgrace. It’s just awful.
When the Trump administration ripped the Pride flag down, it was a direct attack on this community—an attempt to chip away at hard-won civil rights. So today, we’re fighting back and taking action. I am introducing legislation to designate the Pride flag as a congressionally authorized flag in America, and that means it can be flown here and everywhere else. No one can take it down.”
After the National Park Service removed the rainbow flag from Stonewall National Monument in NYC, Sen. Chuck Schumer announced Sunday afternoon that he plans to introduce legislation “to designate the pride flag as a congressionally authorized flag.” https://t.co/DNgH6sHFEw pic.twitter.com/ITOinUJUrp
— ABC News (@ABC) February 15, 2026
The Senate Democrats released the following statement:
The Trump administration continued its assault on the LGBTQ community earlier this week with the removal of the historic pride flag from the Stonewall Monument in New York, citing a directive that it is not a congressionally authorized flag. Today, Leader Schumer moved to right that wrong by introducing legislation that would give the pride flag the designation of a congressional authorized flag, as well as express a sense of the Senate that the pride flag should fly at the Stonewall Monument.
“Stonewall has stood 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,” said Leader Schumer.
“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.”
As a Senator, Leader Schumer has been a strong voice for the LGBTQ community. Just last week, Leader Schumer, along with Senator Gillibrand (D-NY) and Representative Goldman (D-NY), wrote to Secretary Burgum slamming the Trump administration’s decision to remove the Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument and calling for its immediate restoration.
During Pride month this year, Leader Schumer slammed the Trump administration for targeting LGBTQ Americans for their cruel cuts to programs used to diagnose, treat and prevent HIV/AIDS prevention cuts, calling on RFK Jr. to reverse billions in cuts and stand down from making LGBTQ community a target of his extreme agenda.
Additionally, when Leader Schumer was the Majority Leader, he fought hard to pass the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act, which provided federal protections for same-sex marriage in the case that the Supreme Court ever overturns Obergefell v. Hodges. The legislation was signed into Law by President Biden in 2022.
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