In a powerful display of community and resilience, the National Mall in Washington, D.C., became the site of the Freedom To Be Monument on May 17. Organized by the ACLU, this art installation comprises 258 quilt panels crafted by more than 200 trans artists, families, and allies from across the United States. The monument, spearheaded by Gillian Branstetter, a transgender advocate and communication strategist for the ACLU’s LGBTQ Project, coincides with Trans Pride and the kickoff of WorldPride in D.C.
Inspired by the legacy of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, the Freedom To Be Monument serves as both a celebration of trans life and a bold statement of defiance against recent political attacks on transgender rights. In the months following President Donald Trump’s return to office, his administration has enacted policies aimed at restricting transgender rights, including bans on military service and gender-affirming care for minors. Additionally, references to transgender individuals were removed from the National Park Service’s website on the Stonewall Riots, a stark erasure of the trans women of color who played key roles in the historic uprising.
Branstetter, reflecting on the creation of the monument, described it as a visual representation of the fight for freedom, a core value that underpins the transgender rights movement. To bring the project to life, the ACLU worked with its state chapters to organize quilting parties, where community members came together to express their personal definitions of freedom through art. The result is a 9,000-square-foot display of resistance and pride.
Quilt panels range from personal stories to powerful messages, such as one from Kansas that reads, “I define my existence and I exist defiantly.” Another panel from Idaho calls for “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness for trans Idahoans,” while a floral-patterned quilt from South Dakota advocates for non-binary recognition on state-issued identification.
At the event’s unveiling, Peppermint, drag performer and ACLU’s Artist Ambassador for Transgender Justice, spoke passionately about the monument’s purpose. “This quilt is not just about protest; it’s about joy,” she said. “It’s a celebration of our lives and our right to exist, despite the administration’s efforts to erase us.”
The event attracted thousands, including trans youth, activists, and allies, who shared stories and celebrated with music and dance. One participant, Night Harrison from West Virginia, described the monument as “queer joy in its purest form,” reflecting on the power of community art to foster solidarity amid adversity.
The Freedom To Be Monument will remain on the National Mall throughout the weekend, offering a space for reflection and celebration during a time of intensified political pressure on transgender rights. As WorldPride continues, the installation serves as a reminder that trans lives are part of the nation’s fabric, a truth that no administration can undo.
