By Matt Underwood The GOP’s recent decision to erase all mentions of bisexual individuals from the Stonewall National Monument webpages is, frankly, not a surprise. It’s a stark example of what many of us, particularly within the transgender community, have been warning about for quite some time. The removal of bisexual representation, coming on the heels of the erasure of transgender people, is a clear indication that these attacks are part of a broader strategy. The goal, as has been repeatedly stated, is to shrink the scope of who is considered worthy of belonging, visibility, and remembrance.
The initial removal of transgender people from the monument’s historical narrative was a warning sign. It signaled that the attacks were never just about specific groups or issues, but about a larger ideology of exclusion. The move to now exclude bisexuals reinforces that. It’s a pattern of division and marginalization, a tactic of chipping away at the LGBTQ+ community piece by piece. The revised language on the Stonewall monument’s website, omitting the contributions of bisexual individuals and altering the very essence of the historical context, is a deliberate act of revisionism. It rewrites history to suit a specific political agenda.
The phrase “Stonewall community,” which has never been used within the LGBTQ+ community, is a strategic term employed to obscure the historical persecution of people based on their non-heterosexual orientations and their non-cisgender gender identities. This is a clear indicator of an effort to narrow the scope of historical recognition. It’s an attempt to rewrite the story, removing the contributions and experiences of those who don’t fit a narrow definition of acceptable identity. The inclusion of bisexuals within the Stonewall movement is an essential part of the story.
This is not just about semantics or historical accuracy. It’s a political move that impacts real people. It has repercussions on the lives of individuals and the narratives that shape our understanding of the world. It’s a signal of the direction the GOP is heading. This erasure aims to create a simplified narrative that excludes the complex identities and experiences of many within the LGBTQ+ community. This is a long-term strategy that has been deployed again and again in an attempt to isolate and divide.
The attacks are often incremental, as has been the case here. The removal of transgender people was a step, and the exclusion of bisexuals is another. It’s a process of attrition. The concern is that this will only accelerate. This is not just about taking away rights. It’s about controlling the narrative. This is a dangerous game where one demographic is pitted against the other.
When the focus is on “protecting children” or ensuring “fairness” in sports, the real goal often involves eliminating or drastically minimizing the presence of a specific group of people. While the discussion continues to focus on these things, the LGBTQIA+ community is being thrown under the bus, where the rights and recognition of the community is further eroded. This isn’t a matter of overreacting; it’s a case of seeing a trend and recognizing what it means. This is not a matter of speculation. It’s the next step in an ongoing effort to marginalize and oppress minority groups.
It is critical to remember that the Stonewall riots were sparked by trans people and drag queens. Their courage and resistance are a cornerstone of LGBTQ+ history. To erase their legacy is to undermine the entire movement. And as for the end game, the strategy, in its core, is to exclude. The GOP seems hellbent on making the nation one where anyone who isn’t a heterosexual, cisgender, white Christian is seen as the enemy.