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Park ranger fired for hanging trans pride flag sues Interior Department
Dr. Joslin alleges unconstitutional retaliation after being fired for a transgender pride flag protest at Yosemite; lawsuit seeks reinstatement and damages, citing First Amendment violations.
- Dr. Shannon 'SJ' Joslin filed a federal lawsuit on Feb. 23, 2026, alleging unlawful retaliation after unfurling a transgender pride flag last May at Yosemite National Park.
- The May 20 flag display involved seven climbers, including off-duty park rangers, hanging a 55' by 35' transgender pride flag from El Capitan to protest the Trump administration's anti-trans policies. Three months later, Yosemite managers fired Joslin for 'failure to demonstrate acceptable conduct,' while the Yosemite Superintendent's Compendium updated its flag ban on May 21.
- The complaint names the National Park Service, the U.S. Department of the Interior and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and the Department of Justice, seeking reinstatement, a bar on criminal pursuit, and at least $1,000 in damages plus legal costs.
- The Interior Department declined to comment but emphasized park protections in a Feb. 23 update, while Joslin's complaint ties the firing to President Trump's Executive Order 14149 signed on January 20 and critics warned it raises broader free-speech questions for federal employees.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Fired Yosemite worker sues National Park Service after hanging massive transgender flag across El Capitan | Fox Wilmington WSFX-TV
close Video Flag hung upside down in Yosemite National Park following layoffs Yosemite National Park staff members hung a U.S. flag upside down to protest the layoffs at the park by the Trump administration. Credit: Anand K Sankaran via Storyful NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A former Yosemite National Park employee filed a lawsuit against the National Park Service (NPS) after being fired for hanging a transgender pride flag acro…
Fired Yosemite worker sues National Park Service after hanging massive transgender flag across El Capitan
A former Yosemite National Park employee filed a lawsuit against the National Park Service (NPS) after being fired for hanging a transgender pride flag across the park’s El Capitan rock formation in California last year.Shannon "SJ" Joslin, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, reported being fired in August after hanging the massive 55-foot by 35-foot flag across Yosemite’s iconic rock destination. At the time, Joslin insisted that the…
'Non-binary' fired after hanging 'trans' flag at Yosemite sues Trump administration
A probationary wildlife biologist for Yosemite National Park who identifies as "non-binary" covered the side of El Capitan with a gargantuan trans-activist flag last year to protest the Trump administration's reality-affirming policies regarding gender.Shannon Joslin, a female resident of El Portal, California, found out the hard way that actions have consequences — and was fired.'Demonstrating without a permit outside of designated First Amendm…
The Advocate
Out MagazineFormer Yosemite ranger SJ Joslin sues federal government for firing over hanging trans flag
Former Yosemite park ranger and biologist Dr. Shannon “SJ” Joslin, who was fired last summer for hanging a trans flag on El Capitan, is suing the U.S. Department of the Interior, according to a report by PEER (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility).Joslin filed suit Monday against the DOI, stating that the termination was illegal due to violations of their First Amendment rights and of the Privacy Act.Joslin, who identifies as nonbin…
Ex-Yosemite ranger sues Interior Department after firing over trans pride flag
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