A biologist who identified as transgender was recently let go from what he described as a “dream job” in Yosemite National Park, a move he found deeply upsetting. This followed an incident where Shannon “SJ” Jocelyn, 35, and a group of fellow hikers displayed a large transgender flag on the rock formations of El Capitan as a protest against an executive order by President Trump regarding transgender issues.
Jocelyn expressed that, as an American, he believed everyone should be outraged by the situation, regardless of personal identity. “It’s about freedom of speech,” he asserted.
However, this act of protest had significant repercussions. On August 12th, Jocelyn was officially dismissed from his position. “I’m in devastation,” he explained, as reported by NBC News.
He further stated, “We didn’t choose this career for financial gain—we chose it for the love of our work.” With a PhD in Bioinformatics, he noted he could earn a higher salary in Silicon Valley but felt drawn to Yosemite instead.
According to Jocelyn, the flag was hung for about two hours before park officials instructed them to take it down, and he was initially not made aware that he had violated any regulations.
Activists supporting Jocelyn argued that the park’s administration failed to provide any proof that displaying the flag breached their policies. Jocelyn mentioned there have been other instances of flags being displayed without anyone facing penalties.
He reflected on the importance of Yosemite, describing it as not just a stunning landscape but a representation of rights and acceptance and lamented the impact on his life’s work related to the First Amendment.
In response to the incident, a spokesperson for Yosemite National Park confirmed that management actions were being taken against several employees who allegedly failed to adhere to National Park Service regulations.
Rachel Pawlitz, a representative for the NPS, emphasized that most demonstrations require prior permission and indicated that participants could be facing criminal charges for their actions.
Jocelyn mentioned he was exploring legal options and reiterated his commitment to fight against this decision. “I’m going to fight these teeth and claws,” he said, emphasizing that the issue at hand transcended personal identity—it’s about freedom of speech.
