The battle over trans rights is unfolding against the backdrop of one of the most renowned rock climbing destinations in the country.
A National Park ranger has been fired and could face criminal charges along with others after unfurling a trans flag from the El Capitan cliff at Yosemite in California in protest of President Trump’s policies.
Shannon Joslin was ousted from the job last week after participating in displaying the blue-and-pink trans flag from the national park’s rock formation on May 20.
E&E News reported Joslin in the crosshairs of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, which is considering charging the former ranger with a crime.
Liberal groups are crying foul.
“El Capitan has frequently been used as a site for demonstrations of free speech,” Jackie Ostfeld, director of the Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign, said in a statement. “Bringing criminal charges against SJ Joslin for exercising the First Amendment right to freedom of speech enjoyed by all Americans would be an act of intimidation intended to have a chilling effect on others exercising their rights.”
Ms. Ostfeld added, “National parks help tell the story of America, and essential to that story is the freedom of speech.”
Joslin, who identifies as neither woman nor man, said the protest was a way to voice displeasure with the Trump administration.
“I was really hurting because there were a lot of policies coming from the current administration that target trans people, and I’m nonbinary,” the 35-year-old told The Associated Press.
Joslin said flying the flag was a way of saying, “We’re all safe in national parks.”
The former ranger also said the firing sends a chilling message.
“If you’re a federal worker and you have any kind of identity that doesn’t agree with this current administration, then you must be silent, or you will be eliminated,” Joslin said.
The day after the protest, Yosemite’s acting Superintendent Ray McPadden signed off on a new provision that barred “any person or group to hang or otherwise affix to any natural or cultural feature, or display so as to cover any natural or cultural feature, any banner, flag or sign larger than 15 square feet … or a series or combination of banners, flags or signs that total more than 15 square feet in aggregate, unless authorized by permit.”
The provision added, “This restriction is necessary to preserve the values of wilderness character in accordance with the Wilderness Act, provide for an unimpaired visitor experience, and protect natural and cultural resources in designated Wilderness and Potential Wilderness Addition portions of the park.”
The Sierra Club stated that the possible penalties for violating the rule include up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for groups.
Rachel Pawlitz, spokeswoman for the National Park Service, said park officials are collaborating with the Justice Department to identify the employees who participated in the May 20 protest.
She said they are “pursuing administrative action against several Yosemite National Park employees and possible criminal charges against several park visitors who are alleged to have violated federal laws and regulations related to demonstrations.”
Mr. Trump has pushed back against the trans community, including by reversing President Biden’s support of “gender-affirming” care.
For instance, on his first day in office, Mr. Trump signed an executive order titled “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.”
The order said, “My Administration will defend women’s rights and protect freedom of conscience by using clear and accurate language and policies that recognize women are biologically female, and men are biologically male.”
• This story is based in part on wire reports.
