Ex‑Yosemite Biologist Sues NPS Over Firing for Transgender Flag on El Capitan
Shannon "SJ" Joslin, a probationary National Park Service wildlife biologist/ranger at Yosemite, was terminated in August weeks before her probation ended after helping hang a large transgender pride flag from El Capitan on May 20, 2025, and has filed a federal lawsuit in Washington, D.C. alleging the firing and a related criminal investigation violated her First Amendment and privacy rights and amounted to selective, viewpoint‑based enforcement; attorneys are seeking immediate reinstatement and a ruling that the park’s demonstration and banner rules were applied unconstitutionally, while the NPS says unpermitted demonstrations outside designated First Amendment areas "detract from the visitor experience" and declines to comment on personnel actions.
📌 Key Facts
- Shannon "SJ" Joslin was a probationary National Park Service wildlife biologist/ranger at Yosemite.
- Joslin helped hang a large transgender pride flag from El Capitan on May 20, 2025.
- She was terminated in August 2025, weeks before her probationary period was scheduled to end.
- Joslin filed a federal lawsuit in Washington, D.C., alleging the firing and a related criminal investigation violated her First Amendment and privacy rights and that Yosemite selectively enforced demonstration and banner rules based on viewpoint.
- The lawsuit cites Yosemite’s history of climbers raising political and social flags on El Capitan to support its claim of viewpoint discrimination and asks for Joslin’s immediate reinstatement and a ruling that the regulations were applied unconstitutionally.
- The National Park Service said Yosemite demonstrations without permits outside designated First Amendment areas "detract from the visitor experience," stated the agency "will not tolerate violations of laws and regulations," and declined to comment on the personnel action.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms Shannon "SJ" Joslin was a probationary National Park Service wildlife biologist/ranger at Yosemite and was terminated in August, weeks before the probation period ended, for helping hang a large transgender pride flag from El Capitan on May 20, 2025.
- Details the specific claims in the new federal lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C., alleging the firing and a related criminal investigation violated Joslin’s First Amendment and privacy rights and that NPS selectively enforced Yosemite’s demonstration and banner rules based on viewpoint.
- Provides NPS’s on‑the‑record response that Yosemite demonstrations without permits outside designated First Amendment areas 'detract from the visitor experience' and that the agency 'will not tolerate violations of laws and regulations,' but declines comment on the personnel action.
- Notes that Yosemite has a history of climbers raising political and social flags on El Capitan, which the suit cites to argue viewpoint discrimination, and that attorneys are seeking Joslin’s immediate reinstatement and a ruling that the regulations were applied unconstitutionally.