Park Ranger Fired for Displaying Transgender Pride Flag at Yosemite
The National Park Service has reportedly terminated a ranger at Yosemite National Park who displayed a transgender pride flag at the El Capitan rock formation earlier this year. Shannon “SJ” Jocelyn, 35, claims he was dismissed for exercising his First Amendment rights after hanging a 55-foot flag on the iconic site in May.
Jocelyn, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, defended the act as a personal expression during off-duty hours. “I was let go by a temporary supervisor for not demonstrating acceptable conduct as a wildlife biologist,” Jocelyn stated, emphasizing that the flag was not raised during work hours and did not pertain to his official duties.
After displaying the flag for about two hours, Jocelyn expressed frustration at being reprimanded, claiming that no previous actions had drawn consequences. “I want my rights acknowledged and my career back,” he insisted.
In a response to NBC News, Rachel Paulitz, a spokesperson for the National Park Service, mentioned that the Department of Justice is investigating some employees for potential violations of demonstration laws. She did not provide specifics on the ongoing inquiries but highlighted the importance of adhering to laws that protect park resources and visitor experiences.
Following the demonstration, acting chief Ray McPaden implemented a directive prohibiting flags and banners larger than 15 square feet from being displayed without permission.
Jocelyn noted the significance of the flag-raising as a demonstration of solidarity within the LGBTQ community. “Raising this flag at El Capitan represents our unity and visibility,” they said in a statement. “Trans identities are a real and beautiful part of human diversity. We can make progress by embracing this diversity rather than attempting to erase it.”
In a related incident, Yosemite staff turned the U.S. flag upside down on El Capitan as a protest against layoffs initiated during the Trump administration, specifically targeting a new National Park Service employee’s dismissal.
