The former Yosemite Park ranger who was fired for hanging the transgender pride flag on El Capitan last year is suing the Department of the Interior.
Former ranger Shannon Joslin filed the lawsuit against the federal government on Monday, claiming her First Amendment rights were violated.
The backstory: Joslin, who identifies as nonbinary, hung a large transgender pride flag on El Capitan with other rock climbers last May. The flag stayed up for three hours.
- Joslin had not been on the clock during the incident.
- Yosemite National Park fired Joslin last August and placed two other employees on administrative leave.
The big picture: The lawsuit claims that the National Parks Service and the Department of Justice targeted Joslin for hanging the transgender pride flag.
- Joslin also claims the federal government violated the Privacy Act by using a press release that Joslin’s group issued the day they unfurled the flag to take action against Joslin.
- The lawsuit states that Joslin’s notice of termination only cited a regulation prohibiting demonstrations outside of designated protest areas. Joslin argues that the regulation has never been applied to or enforced for similar conduct.
What they’re saying: “My life has been overhauled by an administration that wants to take away basic constitutional rights and ruin the lives of people who think or are different from them,” Joslin told SFGATE. “I won’t sit back and accept the failing of American democracy, and this lawsuit is my way of giving voice to and fighting for all federal, trans and human rights in the United States.”
- Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) attorney Joanna Citron Day, who is one of the lawyers representing Joslin, said the Trump administration is targeting Joslin in order to scare people into silence.
- “Dr. Joslin exercised their First Amendment rights and is being punished to send a clear message – speech the administration doesn’t like will not be tolerated,” Day said in a statement. “Dr. Joslin was illegally fired and should be reinstated immediately.”
- A National Parks Service spokesperson told The Hill that while the agency does not comment on the specifics of personnel actions, it emphasizes that it takes the protection of the park’s resources and the experience of its visitors very seriously.
- “Yosemite National Park was designated by Congress to highlight the beautiful natural and cultural features of the area,” the spokesperson said. “No matter the cause, demonstrating without a permit outside of designated First-Amendment areas detracts from the visitor experience and the protection of the park. To safeguard the protection of visitors, visitor experiences, and park resources, many demonstrations require a permit.”
