Preserving Boston's LGBTQ+ Legacy Amidst Federal Erasures

In January, sweeping executive orders from the president began to purge trans and queer identities, alongside diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) efforts, from the federal government. These orders have initiated a troubling trend within federal bureaucracies, aiming to rewrite or completely erase histories that conflict with a Christian nationalist vision for America—one that explicitly excludes trans individuals.

The ramifications of these orders are being felt nationwide, as notable LGBTQ+ historical narratives are being systematically removed from official records. One prominent example includes the National Parks Service's (NPS) decision to expunge references to trans individuals who played pivotal roles in the 1969 Stonewall Riots from its Stonewall monument webpage. This action has sparked significant protests, with thousands gathering in New York's Greenwich Village to voice their opposition.

But the erasure isn’t limited to New York. Across the country, similar incidents are unfolding, including in Boston. The city’s History Project, an organization committed to documenting LGBTQ+ Boston, recently revealed that in February, the NPS removed "Their Dreams, Their Rights, and Their Love," an LGBTQ+ audio tour of Beacon Hill and Downtown Boston, from its website.

Rescuing Erased Histories

The audio tour, which highlighted the contributions of influential queer historical figures like 19th-century novelists Sarah Orne Jewett and Annie Fields, and gay rights activist Prescott Townsend, has been a staple of Boston’s rich LGBTQ+ history. It also showcased popular gay gathering spots such as the Sporters Bar in the city’s West End.

"This tour belongs to the public—not the politicians," asserts the History Project. "Work crafted by government employees in their official capacities is public domain, and it is imperative that it remains accessible to our community as we strive for visibility, truth, and joy." Thus, the History Project has taken the initiative to salvage and preserve the audio tour, ensuring the continued accessibility of LGBTQ+ stories that the NPS sought to erase.

The History Project emphasizes its mission to document, preserve, and share queer and trans stories, especially in times when institutional safeguards for these narratives are undermined. By making the tour accessible again, the group invites everyone to walk through queer and trans history as a form of resistance against efforts to erase these vital stories.

Confronting Systematic Erasure

An investigation by The Boston Globe into the NPS's actions in the Boston area uncovered at least six instances where the service had removed stories related to LGBTQ+ activism, including significant events at Faneuil Hall. They also discovered that guides on Black and LGBTQ+ history had been scrubbed from the Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters web page. Furthermore, the NPS had shortened all instances of "LGBTQ+" to merely "LGB," an acronym predominantly used by those opposed to trans inclusion.

Such actions have not only drawn criticism but also highlight a broader trend of historical revisionism. Earlier this month, the NPS faced backlash for removing mentions of Black abolitionist icon Harriet Tubman from its Underground Railroad page, which were only restored after public outcry.

Theo Linger, a former NPS Boston employee who contributed significantly to the Boston LGBTQ+ History section, expressed his dismay over the agency's direction. "The NPS has always been seen as reputable," Linger noted. "Having queer history included in that prestige was a major achievement." However, when faced with the ultimatum to eliminate any mention of queer and trans people from his work, Linger chose to walk away rather than betray his community.

The now-erased LGBTQ+ History title page once proudly declared, "As America’s storytellers, the National Park Service is committed to telling the history of all Americans in all of its diversity and complexity." Yet, the page's erasure of transgender and queer histories starkly contradicts this mission.

As these incidents unfold, the History Project and similar groups continue to fight against these erasures, ensuring that the rich and diverse histories of LGBTQ+ communities remain visible and accessible for future generations.

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