Flag Flap

Image:  Gay City News

It was Gay City News that alerted the world a few days ago that the Trump administration had removed the large Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument.

Now GCN is reporting the flag has returned—thanks to a healthy dose of Stonewall-like defiance.

The removal of the rainbow flag, which had been installed during the Biden administration, provoked angry responses from lots of New York politicians. Some of them pledged to re-raise a flag yesterday afternoon.

They brought a Pride flag on a thin plastic flagpole and placed it next to the flagpole where the original flag had flown. The elected officials "walked away, leaving the audience groaning in disappointment."

Then several activists took it upon themselves to install a rainbow flag on the actual flagpole. It even landed a few inches above the American flag.

So, what happens now? Will these activists who channeled the spirit of Stonewall be arrested? 

Will Trump use this as an excuse to invade New York City? Bulldoze Greenwich Village, call it New Greenland, and install Barron as potentate?

If Trump and his minions do choose to escalate the situation, I foresee not just another round of Stonewall Riots, but potentially another 1776. The fight against authoritarianism has to start somewhere, and wouldn't it just make sense in 2026 that queer people would lead? 

After all, we've only recently been freed. Returning to the closet has all the appeal of being forced to watch "Melania."

This Week's Quote

Image:  Facebook

First of all I'd like to say I'm proud to be here to represent Team USA and to represent our country. But we'd be remiss if we didn't at least mention what's going on in Minnesota, and what a tough time it's been for everybody. This stuff is happening right, right around where we live, and what's happening in Minnesota is wrong. There's no shades of gray. It's clear.

Rich Ruohonen, Olympic curler, lawyer, and at 54 the oldest athlete ever to represent the U.S. at a Winter Games

Source:  YouTube

There Goes the Freak Flag

Image:  Wikipedia

President Obama designated the Stonewall National Monument in 2016, the first national monument dedicated to LGBTQ history. In the decade since, Pride flags have always flown at the famed Greenwich Village site.

Until yesterday.

The National Park Service took down the rainbow flag, and said today that it's only following recently issued Interior Department rules that reduce the flags that can be flown.

The park that celebrates the origin of Pride is forbidden from flying the Pride flag.

Beam me up, Scotty. I'd rather risk my molecules getting stuck in an eternal transporter malfunction than spend another minute in Donald Trump's United States of Cruelty.

This is just the administration's latest attack on the monument. A year ago, as part of the efforts to erase transgender people from federal websites, all references to trans and queer people on the monument's webpage disappeared.

The webpage memorializing the spot where trans women and drag queens fought back against police now refers only to "LGB" people. I was incensed then that the other initials were amputated, and the administration's latest move has made me even incensed-ier.

I'm even making up words.

If this pattern of rewriting history and contradicting reality continues, the "LGB" might well disappear. Stonewall will be turned on its head and become a monument to the need to let police terrorize any group the majority fears.

And they should wear masks while doing it, since police look so darn fetching in them.

NFL=DEI (!)

 

Who of us had corporate sports leading the way on our 2026 Bingo cards?

The Big Game

Image:  Facebook

I grew up in New England, and I live in Seattle. But I'm not torn about who I want to win today's Super Bowl: Bad Bunny.

That Video

Image by kalhh from Pixabay

Last night Donald Trump posted a video promoting conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. The end of the video depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes.

When asked why Trump felt the need to share this video, his mouthpiece Karoline Leavitt wrote, "Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public." Hours later the video was deleted.

In the midst of Black History Month, the American president decided to share a glaringly racist trope with his over 11 million online followers.

I hope this was a sign of desperation. That as his poll numbers decline and the midterms loom, Trump aimed to inspire his base with a gift of overt racism.

Next he'll be offering up a night with Melania in the Lincoln Bedroom.

Understandable, Then Hysterical