Non-binary Yosemite ranger fired for hanging transgender pride flag has lawsuit dismissed
Shannon ‘SJ’ Joslin was fired after hanging the trans pride flag in Yosemite (Image: Getty Images)
A judge has dismissed former Yosemite National Park ranger Shannon “SJ” Joslin’s lawsuit over being fired after helping hang a giant transgender Pride flag on El Capitan, ruling they must pursue the civil service process first.
The court’s decision means the free-speech claim was not decided on its merits.
Joslin, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, was a probationary employee when they were terminated in August 2025.
US District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston dismissed the complaint without prejudice, writing: “The motion to dismiss Joslin’s employment-related claims and requests for relief is granted without leave to amend, but also without prejudice to any future litigation in an appropriate venue.”
According to reports, Joslin has already filed a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), and a final determination is expected in August.
Court filings say the OSC denied Joslin’s initial request to pause their termination while it investigated.
El Capitan flag protest and firing
Joslin has said they helped hang a 66ft-wide transgender Pride flag on El Capitan on 20 May 2025 for about two hours before removing it voluntarily, and that it was done on their day off. They told the Associated Press it was to give the message: “We’re all safe in national parks.”
Joslin’s termination letter accused them of “failing to demonstrate acceptable conduct” and cited the flag incident, stating: “You participated in a small group demonstration in an area outside the designated protest and demonstration area without a permit… and thus circumvented rules applicable to all park visitors.”
Yosemite has designated “First Amendment areas” where groups of 25 or fewer people can protest without permits.
The day after the flag display, Yosemite instituted a rule banning banners, flags or signs bigger than 15 sq ft in areas that have been designated as wilderness or potential wilderness, covering 94% of the park.
What happens next for Joslin
After their firing, Joslin posted an Instagram statement saying: “I hung the flag in my free time, off-duty, as a private citizen. It flew for a total of two hours in the morning and then I took it down. El Capitan has had flags hung on it for decades and no one has EVER been punished for it.” They added: “I want my rights and I want my career back.”
In their lawsuit, Joslin argued the government’s actions were motivated by disagreement with their off-duty speech supporting the trans community.
The flag’s cultural afterlife has also travelled beyond the park, including when Pattie Gonia turned the Yosemite trans Pride flag into a red carpet look.
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