Yosemite Park Ranger Fired for Hanging Trans Pride Flag on El Capitan: A First Amendment Controversy

On May 20, 2025, Shannon “SJ” Joslin, a nonbinary park ranger and wildlife biologist at Yosemite National Park, participated in hanging a 66-foot transgender pride flag on the iconic El Capitan rock formation. Three months later, on August 12, Joslin was fired by the National Park Service (NPS) for “failing to demonstrate acceptable conduct,” sparking a heated debate about free speech, professionalism, and the role of federal employees.

Joslin claims the termination violates their First Amendment rights, while the NPS argues the action was necessary to uphold park regulations and visitor experience. This case highlights a complex clash between personal expression and professional responsibility.

The Incident and Its Context

Joslin, a 35-year-old Ph.D. graduate who managed Yosemite’s Big Wall Bats program, organized the flag display with a group of seven climbers, including two other park rangers, during off-duty hours. The flag, measuring 55 by 35 feet, was hung for about two hours to celebrate transgender identity and signal inclusivity in national parks, particularly in response to recent Trump administration policies targeting transgender rights.

These policies included executive orders redefining sex in federal law to exclude gender identity and restricting access to gender-affirming care. Joslin, who uses they/them pronouns, told The Associated Press the flag was meant to convey, “We’re all safe in national parks.”

However, the NPS viewed the display as an unauthorized demonstration in a non-designated First Amendment area. The day after the incident, Acting Superintendent Ray McPadden signed a new rule banning flags or banners larger than 15 square feet in 94% of the park, including El Capitan, citing the need to protect wilderness areas and visitor experiences.

The NPS reported receiving numerous visitor complaints about unauthorized demonstrations on El Capitan, including a prior incident in February 2025 where an upside-down American flag was hung to protest NPS layoffs.

The Case Against Joslin: Professionalism and Park Policy

The NPS and its supporters argue that Joslin’s actions were unprofessional and incompatible with the apolitical nature of their role. As a federal employee, Joslin was expected to adhere to park regulations, which require permits for demonstrations and restrict displays that could detract from the natural and cultural experience of Yosemite. NPS spokesperson Rachel Pawlitz emphasized, “We take the protection of the park’s resources and the experience of our visitors very seriously, and will not tolerate violations of laws and regulations.”

Critics of Joslin’s actions contend that park rangers, as public servants, must remain neutral to avoid alienating visitors or appearing to endorse specific political or social causes. The transgender pride flag, while a symbol of inclusion for some, could be seen as a political statement, especially given its timing amid controversial federal policies.

The NPS’s new rule, enacted post-incident, underscores the agency’s stance that large displays on natural features like El Capitan disrupt the park’s purpose as a space for universal enjoyment. Furthermore, Joslin’s role as a ranger and biologist involved managing wildlife and visitor safety, not engaging in symbolic protests. The NPS argues that their participation, even off-duty, blurred the line between personal expression and professional conduct, potentially undermining public trust in the agency’s impartiality.

The NPS is also pursuing administrative actions against other involved employees and possible criminal charges against park visitors, with potential penalties including up to six months in jail or fines of $5,000 for individuals. This crackdown reflects a broader effort to enforce demonstration rules, tightened under the Trump administration, which has faced criticism for targeting dissenting voices.

The First Amendment Argument: Joslin’s Defense

Joslin and their supporters, including advocacy groups like Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), argue that the firing violates their First Amendment rights. Joslin insists they acted as a private citizen, not as a ranger, during their off-duty time. They note that flags have historically been hung on El Capitan without consequence, citing examples like “Happy Birthday” banners and pirate flags. “El Capitan has had flags hung on it for decades, and no one has EVER been punished for it. Only me,” Joslin wrote on social media.

The First Amendment protects free speech, including symbolic acts like flag displays, unless they directly disrupt government operations or violate specific, narrowly tailored regulations. Joslin argues the new NPS rule banning large flags was not in effect on May 20, and an archived version of park rules from May 15 supports this claim, showing no explicit prohibition on flags at the time. The rule’s retroactive application, dated back to May 20, raises questions about fairness. Joanna Citron Day, a former federal attorney with PEER, emphasized that the flag display was not a traditional demonstration but a celebration of identity, and the NPS’s response disproportionately targets Joslin for their transgender identity.

Advocates like Pattie Gonia, a drag queen and environmentalist who helped hang the flag, call the firing “a targeted move by the Trump administration to silence and punish anyone who practices free speech and dares to stand in defiance of the erasure of trans people.” They argue the NPS’s actions reflect a broader pattern of suppressing dissent, especially after Trump’s January 20, 2025, executive order claiming to protect free speech in public spaces. Joslin’s termination, they contend, sends a chilling message to federal workers: conform to the administration’s ideology or face consequences.

Balancing Rights and Responsibilities

The case underscores a tension between individual rights and the expectations placed on public employees. The NPS’s position hinges on maintaining a neutral, apolitical environment to preserve Yosemite’s universal appeal, supported by long-standing regulations that have withstood legal challenges. However, Joslin’s defenders argue that the First Amendment protects their right to express personal identity, especially when done off-duty and without disrupting park operations. The timing of the new rule and the severity of the punishment—termination rather than a reprimand, as suggested for first-time offenses—fuel claims of targeted discrimination.

As Joslin considers a wrongful termination lawsuit, the case could set a precedent for how far federal employees can go in expressing personal beliefs. For now, it highlights the delicate balance between free speech and the responsibilities of those tasked with serving the public in America’s cherished national parks.