Shannon “SJ” Joslin, a former Yosemite park ranger and biologist fired for hanging a transgender pride flag on El Capitan, sued the Department of the Interior on Monday, alleging it violated their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech.
“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 National Park Service and the Department of the Interior did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for Yosemite National Park said the park had no comment.
Joslin, a nonbinary bat biologist, was off the clock when they and other rock climbers hung a huge transgender pride flag on the iconic rock formation El Capitan for three hours in May of 2025. The display was responding to efforts by the Trump administration to erase messages of transgender people and communities from government websites, including Park Service webpages.
Joslin was fired from Yosemite in August 2025. Two other employees were placed on administrative leave.
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