Ranger Fired Over Hanging Pride Flag at Yosemite National Park Amid Crackdown on Protests Under Trump Administration
In Yosemite National Park, a ranger specializing in bat research has been terminated following an incident where a pride flag was hung on El Capitan for approximately two hours on May 20th. The park employee, identified as Shannon “SJ” Joslin, revealed that they were let go due to allegations of unacceptable conduct, with the May event serving as the cited reason in their termination letter.
Joslin, a nonbinary individual, stated that hanging the flag was an act to assert safety and inclusivity within national parks amidst policies from the current administration targeting transgender individuals. They expressed concern that their dismissal sends a message discouraging federal workers with identities that differ from the administration’s stance to remain silent or risk termination.
Park authorities are collaborating with the US Justice Department to investigate and potentially prosecute both employees and visitors who violated demonstration restrictions in Yosemite, which attracted over 4 million visitors last year. The agencies are taking administrative action against several national park employees and pursuing possible criminal charges against visitors accused of breaking federal laws and regulations related to demonstrations.
Two other park rangers involved in the flag-raising incident have been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is underway. According to Joanna Citron Day, a former federal attorney now with the advocacy group Public Employees For Environmental Responsibility, they are representing Joslin, but there is no ongoing legal case at present.
Following the flag display on May 21st, Acting Superintendent Ray McPadden enacted a rule preventing people from hanging banners, flags or signs larger than 15 square feet in park areas designated as “wilderness” or “potential wilderness,” which covers approximately 94% of the park according to Yosemite’s website.
Park officials assert that this new restriction on demonstrations is necessary to preserve Yosemite’s wilderness and protect climbers from disruptions. They maintain a strong commitment to the protection of park resources and visitor experiences, stating they will not tolerate any violations affecting these aspects.
The decision comes after a widely publicized incident in February involving demonstrators hanging an upside-down American flag on El Capitan following the firing of National Park Service employees by the Trump administration.
One of the small group of climbers who participated in the pride flag raising was Pattie Gonia, an environmentalist and drag queen known for using performance art to raise awareness about conservation issues. For the past five years, Gonia has been organizing a Pride event in Yosemite for park employees and their allies. They hung the transgender flag on the granite monolith to emphasize that being transgender is natural.
Trump’s administration has limited access to gender-affirming medical treatments, banned trans women from participating in women’s sports, removed trans people from the military, and revised the federal definition of sex to exclude the concept of gender identity. Gonia deemed Joslin’s termination as unjust, while Joslin insisted that they hung the flag voluntarily, as a private citizen outside of work hours.
Gonia praised Joslin as a respected figure in the Yosemite community and an active volunteer who consistently goes beyond the call of duty. Jayson O’Neill with the advocacy group Save Our Parks suggested that Joslin’s termination may be part of an effort to intimidate park employees from expressing their views, as the Trump administration pursues significant cuts to the federal workforce.
Since Trump took office, the National Park Service has experienced a reduction in its workforce by approximately 2,500 employees, with a proposal for a $900 million cut to the agency’s budget next year.