Case: Gilbert Baker Foundation v. U.S. Department of Interior

1:26-cv-01317 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: Feb. 17, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary, while we research the case.) Plaintiffs Gilbert Baker Foundation, Charles Beal, Village Preservation, and Equality New York filed this lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service on February 17, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. They alleged that Defendants violated the APA by arbitrarily and capriciously removing the official NPS-sanctioned Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument and…

(This summary is temporary, while we research the case.)

Plaintiffs Gilbert Baker Foundation, Charles Beal, Village Preservation, and Equality New York filed this lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service on February 17, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. They alleged that Defendants violated the APA by arbitrarily and capriciously removing the official NPS-sanctioned Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument and by misinterpreting their own flag-display policies. They further alleged that the removal was contrary to Presidential Proclamation 9465 and the Monument’s Foundation Document, and that Defendants violated Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act by failing to consult before taking an action that adversely affected a historic property. Plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief vacating the removal decision, restoring the official Pride flag, and enjoining further noncompliant actions.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72285959/parties/gilbert-baker-foundation-v-us-department-of-interior/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Kristofcak, Alexander (New York)

Loewy, Karen (New York)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:26-cv-01317

Complaint

Feb. 17, 2026

Feb. 17, 2026

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72285959/gilbert-baker-foundation-v-us-department-of-interior/

Last updated Feb. 19, 2026, 5:04 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against Jessica Bowron, Doug Burgum, National Park Service, Amy Sebring, U.S. Department of Interior. (Filing Fee $ 405.00, Receipt Number ANYSDC-32419306)Document filed by Village Preservation, Charles Beal, EQNY Fund Inc. d/b/a/ Equality New York, Gilbert Baker Foundation. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A: September 17, 2021 Letter from M. Petrelis to G. Vietzke, # 2 Exhibit B: January 21, 2026 Directive re Display and Flying of Non-Agency Flags, # 3 Exhibit C: June 23, 2017 Department of Interior Manual, Part 310, Chapter 5, # 4 Exhibit D: May 2019 Stonewall National Monument Foundation Document).(Kristofcak, Alexander) (Entered: 02/17/2026)

1 Exhibit A: September 17, 2021 Letter from M. Petrelis to G. Vietzke

View on RECAP

2 Exhibit B: January 21, 2026 Directive re Display and Flying of Non-Agency Flags

View on RECAP

3 Exhibit C: June 23, 2017 Department of Interior Manual, Part 310, Chapter 5

View on RECAP

4 Exhibit D: May 2019 Stonewall National Monument Foundation Document

View on RECAP

Feb. 17, 2026

Feb. 17, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

CIVIL COVER SHEET filed..(Kristofcak, Alexander) (Entered: 02/17/2026)

Feb. 17, 2026

Feb. 17, 2026

3

REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, re: 1 Complaint,,. Document filed by Charles Beal, EQNY Fund Inc. d/b/a/ Equality New York, Gilbert Baker Foundation, Village Preservation..(Kristofcak, Alexander) (Entered: 02/17/2026)

Feb. 17, 2026

Feb. 17, 2026

4

REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to DOUG BURGUM, re: 1 Complaint,,. Document filed by Charles Beal, EQNY Fund Inc. d/b/a/ Equality New York, Gilbert Baker Foundation, Village Preservation..(Kristofcak, Alexander) (Entered: 02/17/2026)

Feb. 17, 2026

Feb. 17, 2026

5

REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, re: 1 Complaint,,. Document filed by Charles Beal, EQNY Fund Inc. d/b/a/ Equality New York, Gilbert Baker Foundation, Village Preservation..(Kristofcak, Alexander) (Entered: 02/17/2026)

Feb. 17, 2026

Feb. 17, 2026

6

REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to JESSICA BOWRON, re: 1 Complaint,,. Document filed by Charles Beal, EQNY Fund Inc. d/b/a/ Equality New York, Gilbert Baker Foundation, Village Preservation..(Kristofcak, Alexander) (Entered: 02/17/2026)

Feb. 17, 2026

Feb. 17, 2026

7

NOTICE OF APPEARANCE by Karen Loewy on behalf of Charles Beal, EQNY Fund Inc. d/b/a/ Equality New York, Gilbert Baker Foundation, Village Preservation..(Loewy, Karen) (Entered: 02/17/2026)

Feb. 17, 2026

Feb. 17, 2026

8

REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to AMY SEBRING, re: 1 Complaint,,. Document filed by Charles Beal, EQNY Fund Inc. d/b/a/ Equality New York, Gilbert Baker Foundation, Village Preservation..(Kristofcak, Alexander) (Entered: 02/17/2026)

Feb. 17, 2026

Feb. 17, 2026

9

Notice of Appearance

Feb. 17, 2026

Feb. 17, 2026

10

Appear Pro Hac Vice

Feb. 18, 2026

Feb. 18, 2026

11

Summons Issued

Feb. 18, 2026

Feb. 18, 2026

12

Summons Issued

Feb. 18, 2026

Feb. 18, 2026

13

Summons Issued

Feb. 18, 2026

Feb. 18, 2026

14

Summons Issued

Feb. 18, 2026

Feb. 18, 2026

15

Summons Issued

Feb. 18, 2026

Feb. 18, 2026

16

Order for Initial Pretrial Conference

Feb. 18, 2026

Feb. 18, 2026

17

Certificate of Service as to USA

Feb. 18, 2026

Feb. 18, 2026

18

Certificate of Service Other

Feb. 18, 2026

Feb. 18, 2026

Case Opening Initial Assignment Notice

Feb. 18, 2026

Feb. 18, 2026

Notice Regarding Deficient Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice

Feb. 18, 2026

Feb. 18, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

New York

Case Type(s):

Public Accommodations/ Contracting/ Organizational Discrimination

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 17, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

Southern District of New York 1:26-cv-01317

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket