Judge dismisses suit by fired Yosemite ranger who hung trans pride flag in park
Summary
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former Yosemite park ranger who was fired after hanging a large transgender pride flag on El Capitan. The judge ruled that the ranger, a probationary employee, must first use the official federal complaint process before suing over the termination.Key Facts
- Shannon “SJ” Joslin, a nonbinary former Yosemite ranger, was fired after hanging a 66-foot transgender pride flag on El Capitan in May 2025.
- Joslin hung the flag on their day off and took it down voluntarily after about two hours.
- The termination letter cited Joslin for participating in an unauthorized protest outside designated permit areas in the park.
- Yosemite National Park has specific areas where protests with fewer than 25 people can happen without permits.
- Joslin filed a lawsuit claiming their firing violated their free speech rights and was retaliatory.
- The lawsuit also referenced the Trump administration’s policies seen as hostile toward transgender people.
- The judge said Joslin must follow the Civil Service Reform Act’s process for probationary employees to challenge their firing.
- The judge did not make a decision on whether Joslin’s free speech rights were violated but dismissed the lawsuit for now.
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