Park Ranger Sues After Being Fired For Hanging Flag From National Landmark
A former Yosemite National Park ranger is taking the federal government to court, alleging that their firing over a transgender pride flag display violated core constitutional protections.
Shannon “SJ” Joslin, a nonbinary biologist and former Yosemite employee, filed a lawsuit Monday against the Department of the Interior in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The complaint argues that Joslin’s termination — and an accompanying criminal investigation — infringed upon First Amendment free speech rights as well as protections under the Privacy Act.
“Constitutional rights are necessary and guaranteed for every person in the United States,” Joslin told SFGATE. “This lawsuit is fighting for the rights of average people and is asserting that they don’t just exist for the individuals with the most power in this country.”
The dispute traces back to May 2025, when Joslin, while off duty, joined other climbers in hanging a large transgender pride flag on El Capitan. The banner remained on the iconic rock formation for roughly three hours. According to Joslin, the display was intended as a response to actions by the Trump administration aimed at removing references to transgender individuals and communities from federal government websites, including National Park Service pages.
Joslin was terminated in August 2025. Two other park employees involved were placed on administrative leave. Around the same time, Acting Superintendent Raymond McPadden instituted new restrictions prohibiting banners, flags, or signs from being displayed on natural features within Yosemite. Violations of the rule could carry penalties of up to six months in jail. The lawsuit claims the restrictions were dated May 20, 2025 — the same day the pride flag was displayed — but were not signed or publicly released until the following day.
According to court filings, Park Service officials informed Joslin that the matter was being treated as a criminal investigation. While no indictment has been issued, Joslin says they have not been notified that the investigation has concluded.
The lawsuit seeks reinstatement to Joslin’s former position and includes a motion for a preliminary injunction to ensure what attorneys describe as protection of free speech rights within Yosemite. Joslin has framed the case as part of a broader fight over civil liberties, stating, “My life has been overhauled by an administration that wants to take away basic constitutional rights and ruin the lives of people who think or are different from them.”
The nonprofit Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), which is supporting the case, asserts that there is no documented history of discipline for similar displays on El Capitan. Climbers have long used the granite face as a platform for messages, including a “Stop the Genocide” banner in June 2024 and an upside-down American flag in February 2025 protesting cuts to the National Park Service.
Joslin’s attorneys argue that the termination amounts to viewpoint discrimination. “If Dr. Joslin had hung a flag the administration liked, they would be working at Yosemite today,” said Clayton Bailey, co-counsel on the case, in a statement.
The Department of the Interior and National Park Service have not publicly commented on the lawsuit.