Yosemite National Park Ranger Fired After Pride Flag Display
Shannon “SJ” Jocelyn, a ranger and wildlife biologist at Yosemite National Park, was terminated following the display of a transgender pride flag on El Capitan on May 12, as confirmed by both Jocelyn and park officials.
This decision comes after a notable event where activists unfurled a 55 x 35-foot banner as part of their “Trans is Natural” initiative, which park staff later removed. The organizers maintained that they adhered to all regulations during the flag display.
“I’m going to fight this tooth and nail,” Jocelyn stated in an interview with NBC News after the dismissal, emphasizing that the issue at hand was one of free speech.
According to Jocelyn, park leadership informed her that she “didn’t demonstrate any acceptable conduct” by participating in the display. The National Park Service (NPS) has indicated that it is considering management actions against multiple employees, and the Department of Justice is reviewing potential criminal charges against several visitors involved in the demonstration.
The flag display received considerable attention on social media from performer Patigonia, who shared a video showing climbers raising the flag on El Capitan.
“Some people carry hatred. We have the largest trans pride flag ever displayed in a national park, and we raised it on the side of El Capitan to prove a point,” Gonia remarked in the clip.
Organizers described the event as a celebration of “belonging to a trans in nature,” claiming park officials took down the flag around 11:30 a.m., even though they asserted that no rules were violated.
An NPS spokesperson did not clarify which specific regulations employees might have broken, but emphasized that the agency would not condone violations of laws or park regulations. They pointed out that most demonstrations typically require a permit.
Reports noted that the day after the flag was displayed, Yosemite updated its director’s report concerning the incident, highlighting the flag’s longevity on El Capitan.
