Former Yosemite Ranger Sues After Firing Over Pride Flag Display

A former ranger at Yosemite National Park, who identifies as non-binary, is taking legal action against the Department of the Interior. This comes after their dismissal last year for displaying a transgender pride flag on the iconic El Capitan rock formation.

Shannon “SJ” Joslin, a self-described non-binary bat biologist, argues that the incident from August 2025 infringed upon her First Amendment rights concerning free speech.

“Constitutional rights are essential and should be protected for everyone in the United States. This lawsuit stands up for the rights of ordinary people, asserting that those rights are not exclusive to the most influential individuals,” Joslin commented after initiating the lawsuit.

During May 2025, Joslin and two fellow National Park Service (NPS) employees, while off-duty, climbed El Capitan and raised the Trans Pride flag. They intended to protest against an executive order from President Trump that prohibited transgender women from competing in women’s sports.

“The current administration has instituted numerous policies that target transgender individuals, which has deeply affected me because I identify as non-binary,” Joslin stated previously.

Following a three-month investigation, Joslin was terminated from her position at Yosemite after four and a half years with the NPS, while the other two participants were placed on administrative leave.

The day after the flag display, NPS enforced a ban on large flags in wilderness areas, with potential violators facing up to six months in prison. Interestingly, the order from Acting Superintendent Raymond McPadden was dated May 20, 2025—the very day of the flag’s display—but wasn’t signed or announced until the next day.

NPS officials informed Joslin that the incident was being treated as a criminal matter and was under active investigation. Up to now, no charges have been filed, yet the inquiry seems ongoing.

Joslin’s legal complaint, presented on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, aims for her reinstatement at Yosemite and seeks protection for her free speech rights in the park through a preliminary injunction.

“My life has been drastically altered by an administration that aims to strip away fundamental constitutional rights and jeopardize the lives of those who think differently,” Joslin expressed.

As of now, NPS, the Department of the Interior, and Yosemite National Park have not responded to requests for comment.