Last week, following President Trump’s executive orders on gender ideology, references to transgender and queer people were removed from the websites of the National Park Service’s (NPS) Stonewall National Monument and other historic sites, replacing the widely used LGBTQ+ abbreviation with “LGB.” This revision deliberately distorts decades of historical scholarship and erases transgender and queer people from our nation’s history.
This erasure contradicts the values and practices of AASLH. At AASLH, we believe that history must be accurate, grounded in sound research and best practices, and reflective of the breadth and complexity of the American experience. This erasure is an affront to generations of scholars, public historians, and LGBTQ+ people, as well as a disservice to the American public, who deserve—and demand—a full picture of their country’s past.
Historic sites exist to deepen our understanding of the past, not to restrict it. Public history institutions help visitors engage with history in all its complexity, fostering critical thinking and creating opportunities for dialogue and common ground. By systematically omitting transgender and queer people from these narratives and refusing to acknowledge their participation in American history, the White House is limiting the public’s ability to engage with a full and accurate account of our nation’s story. This issue is made more concerning by the recent firing of more than 1,000 NPS staff members, further weakening the agency’s ability to maintain and interpret historic resources for millions of visitors.
At a time of increasing polarization and misinformation, telling the whole story of our past is more essential than ever. According to AASLH research, one-third of the nation’s 21,000 public history organizations operate under federal, state, or local governments. These agencies play a critical role in preserving and interpreting our history, and they must do so with accuracy and integrity.
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If you are concerned about whole history at history sites managed by the federal government, we encourage you to contact your members of Congress. Visit this website to find your Representative and Senators.
