February 16, 2026 MANHATTAN, NY The Rainbow Flag is still waving over Christopher Street, but the war for its permanent home has just reached the halls of Congress.

Standing on the hallowed ground of the Stonewall National Monument, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer didn’t hold back on Sunday. Flanked by a coalition of LGBTQ+ leaders and elected officials, Schumer announced a legislative "line in the sand" following the Trump administration’s quiet—and controversial—removal of the Pride Flag from the historic site earlier this month.

"An Eff-ing Disgrace"

The atmosphere was electric as Schumer addressed the crowd, describing the removal of the flag as more than just a bureaucratic "technical rule."

"The Trump administration’s removal of the Pride Rainbow Flag... is a deeply outrageous action that must be reversed," Schumer declared. "It’s an eff-ing disgrace. It’s just awful."

The legislation, co-sponsored in the House by New York Congressmember Dan Goldman, aims to designate the Pride Flag as a Congressionally authorized flag. If passed, the law would strip the Executive Branch of the power to remove it, effectively making the flag a permanent fixture of the American landscape.

A Pattern of Erasure?

The flag's removal didn't happen in a vacuum. Community leaders point to a year-long series of "attacks" on the monument's digital and physical presence, including:

• The "T" and "Q" Erasure: Removing references to Transgender and Queer identities from the monument’s official website.

• Bisexual Invisibility: The removal of content specifically representing the bisexual community.

• The "Political Stunt" Label: The Department of the Interior’s dismissal of the community's flag-re-raising ceremony as a mere stunt.

"They don’t have the foggiest idea of what’s going on with people," Schumer said of the current administration. "This is about dignity. It’s about visibility. It’s about respect."

The Ghosts of 2020

Schumer grounded the current fight in the chilling uncertainty that followed the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2020. He recalled a dinner with his daughter and her wife where the fear of losing marriage equality became a dinner-table reality.

While the Respect for Marriage Act eventually codified those rights, Schumer warned that "rights that are not secured in law can be threatened."

A Call to "War"

The rhetoric from local leaders was even more pointed. Melissa Sklarz of the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City warned that the community is prepared for a long-term conflict.

"We will go to war," Sklarz said. "He has gone to war with immigrants, and women, and people of color... Now, just for the hell of it, he’s going to attack our queer symbols. New York will fight back."

Can It Pass?

With Republicans currently holding the White House and both houses of Congress, the path for Schumer’s bill is uphill. However, the Senator remains hopeful for a bipartisan breakthrough, citing the 12 Republicans who crossed the aisle for the Respect for Marriage Act.

"It’s a different world, with Trump and all of his horrible, hateful minions," Schumer admitted, "but we’re going to fight."

The "City Control" Option

In a final twist, a proposal was floated to move the Stonewall National Monument out of federal hands and back under New York City control to prevent future interference from Washington. Schumer called it a "good idea" and promised to look into the logistics of a municipal takeover.

For now, the flag stays up—defiant and colorful against the New York skyline—waiting for a law to catch up to its spirit.