The National Park Service fired a wildlife biologist at Yosemite National Park who helped hang a massive transgender-pride flag on El Capitan in May to protest the Trump administration’s LGBTQ+ policies. Additional investigations into protesters at Yosemite, employees and visitors, are ongoing.
Shannon “SJ” Joslin, a 35-year-old geneticist who self-identifies as “nonbinary” and specializes in bats, received a termination letter from the National Park Service on August 12. The letter states that Joslin, who was also a park ranger, had “failed to demonstrate acceptable conduct.”
National Review previously reported that activists raised the blue, pink, and white flag on May 20, which they claimed was 55 feet by 35 feet. It was hung 1,500 feet up El Capitan on the “Heart Ledges,” between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Pacific Time, where it remained on display until about noon. Images shared by some of the activists show that statements like “free Palestine,” “be gay do crime,” “trans people save lives,” and “trans is beautiful” were written on the flag in black marker. A spokesperson for the Yosemite Park Service said at the time that it was an “unauthorized display” and “the flag was removed as soon as possible.”
“Raising this flag in the heart of El Capitan is a celebration of our community standing in solidarity with each other and all targeted groups,” said Joslin at the time of the protest. “Trans existence is not up for debate. We are social workers, public servants, parents, and neighbors. Being trans is a natural, beautiful part of human and biological diversity. We can only make progress when we embrace diversity, not erase it.”
The day after the demonstration, the park’s acting superintendent signed a new rule prohibiting the display of signs, banners, and flags larger than 15 square feet in most of the park, including at El Capitan. The rule had been included in a compendium dated May 20, the day of the protest.
In response to the termination, Joslin said that she participated in the protest as a “private citizen” and “private civilian” outside of work hours and did not use any park resources. In a press release, Joslin argued that the demonstration is protected activity under the First Amendment.
“Everything that I did was off the clock and had absolutely nothing to do with my capacity working for the National Park Service,” said Joslin. “I think that the administration is using me as a sign to tell all of the other federal employees that they have to be silent and comply or they will be eliminated.”
According to Joslin, two of the seven participants in the demonstration were park rangers, and they are on administrative leave pending an investigation.
National Park Service spokesperson Rachel Pawlitz said that the agency and the Department of Justice are pursuing action against several Yosemite National Park employees and park visitors who are alleged to have violated federal laws and regulations related to demonstrations.
“Several unauthorized demonstrations involving El Capitan generated numerous complaints from visitors,” Pawlitz said. “Yosemite National Park was designated by Congress to highlight the beautiful natural and cultural features of the area. No matter the cause, displaying signs, banners, and flags outside of designated First-Amendment areas detracts from the visitor experience and the protection of the park.”
“We flew the Trans Pride flag in Yosemite to make a statement: Trans people are natural and Trans people are loved,” said Wyn Wylie, an environmentalist drag-queen performer who uses the stage name “Pattie Gonia” and participated in the Yosemite protest. Wylie founded the nonprofit environmentalist organization The Outdoorist Oath, which asks members to take an oath that includes acknowledging climate change, committing to advocacy for environmental justice, and recognizing “that systemic oppression is real and that hatred, discrimination, and biases marginalize people.” Wylie delivered a TedTalk titled “Why Joy Is a Serious Way to Take Action” this year, starred in a pride-themed campaign for the outdoor clothing and gear company The North Face, and was named one of National Geographic’s nine “Travelers of the Year” in 2024.
Four activists unfurled a massive flag that said “STOP THE GENOCIDE” on El Capitan in 2024, and the San Francisco Chronicle reported that a group of Yosemite National Park staffers hung a large American flag upside down on El Capitan in February to protest the Trump administration’s cost-saving initiatives and the park’s looming cuts to staff.