A NPS employee has been fired for expressing first amendment activities

On August 12, Yosemite National Park ranger Shannon “SJ” Joslin (they/them) was fired from their dream job with the National Park Service. Their offense? Legally flying a trans flag on El Capitan while off-duty, as a private citizen (an act well within their rights).

SJ shared on Instagram:

“Last week I was fired from my dream job as a permanent park ranger with the NPS for practicing my First Amendment right. In May I hung a trans flag on El Capitan that celebrated my acceptance of my identity. 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. Only me.”

TL;DR

• Yosemite ranger SJ Joslin was fired on August 12, 2025 after flying a trans flag on El Capitan while off-duty on May 20th. This was an act of free expression protected by the First Amendment.

• Park leadership rewrote and backdated rules the next day (May 21st) to ban flags in wilderness areas, despite decades of climbers displaying banners without punishment. Despite what their termination letter said, the act of hanging the trans pride flag did not require any permits and did not violate any park rules.

• We believe SJ’s firing is unconstitutional, discriminatory, and a threat to free speech. We are calling for their immediate reinstatement, an independent investigation, and accountability from the National Park Service.

• Please email Yosemite’s acting leadership and demand SJ’s reinstatement. Send your message to raymond_mcpadden@nps.gov and danika_globokar@nps.gov

• Donate to SJ's GoFundMe to help them recover from lost wages and fund their legal battle.

A legal note: The information in this blog post is based on publicly available reporting, statements from those involved, and my own perspective. Some of what is discussed reflects the claims of those directly affected and has not been resolved in court. Nothing in this video should be taken as a definitive legal conclusion. While I believe this firing raises serious First Amendment concerns, these issues remain alleged and under dispute. This content is for informational and advocacy purposes only, not legal advice.

A park ranger being fired for using their First Amendment isn't just wrong, it's unconstitutional

We're at a moral and ethical crossroads here. And it's a slippery, slippery slope.

• Alleged First Amendment violation: SJ’s expression was personal, off-duty, and unrelated to their job—but Yosemite leadership still fired them for “failing to demonstrate acceptable conduct.” This is a direct attack on constitutional rights.

  
  

• Retroactive rule revisions: At the time of the flag display (May 20th), no rule prohibited hanging flags on El Capitan. In fact, many flags had hung there previously without consequence. The very next day (May 21st), acting Superintendent Raymond McPadden backdated a new regulation banning banners, flags, or signs larger than 15 square feet in wilderness areas.

  
  

• Dangerous precedent: The ban applies across Yosemite, even when demonstrators are small or peaceful. Penalties are extreme: Fines up to $5,000 per individual, $10,000 for groups, and up to six months in prison. A harmless expression of identity that harms no one now suddenly becomes a criminal offense. Where will it end?

  
  

• Uneven enforcement: Climbers have previously flown flags and banners (like a “Stop the Genocide” message and an upside-down U.S. flag) without penalty. Why would the trans flag be the exception?

To strip SJ of their position is not only an affront to their personal freedom, but an attack on the very values of service, dedication, and community that they embody to the whole community. This is about silencing freedom of speech and personal identity, and we must not let that happen.

About SJ

Over 4.5 years in Yosemite, SJ has gone above and beyond:

• Volunteering overtime to shovel snow so wheelchair users could access bridges.

• Helping with traffic flow during peak visitation.

• Becoming red-carded as a Wildland Firefighter, Swift Water Rescue Technician, Search and Rescue Technician, and Wilderness First Responder.

• Representing Yosemite at national conferences and partner events.

“No one, in any of my roles, has EVER had negative comments about my conduct. I treat people with the time, patience, and respect I hope they will give to me.”

Their work has been about more than just wildlife biology; it has been about preservation.

“Preservation has been my life’s work—of Yosemite, the wildlife, the land, recreation, of peoples’ rights and safety, of community and acceptance, and now the Constitutional First Amendment.”

You can donate to SJ's GoFundMe to help them recover from lost wages and fund their inevitable legal battle here (this has been verified as a legitimate GoFundMe directly with SJ).

We can’t stay silent. Here’s how you can help.

This case is about free speech, fairness, and inclusivity. If the National Park Service can fire someone for lawful, off-duty expression, what stops them from punishing any employee (or any citizen) for the same?

We are calling for:

1. Immediate reinstatement of SJ Joslin.

2. An independent investigation into Yosemite’s discriminatory practices.

3. Transparency and accountability from the NPS and the Department of the Interior.

We must make it clear that the public is watching. Please email Yosemite’s acting leadership and demand SJ’s reinstatement.

Send your message to:

• raymond_mcpadden@nps.gov

• danika_globokar@nps.gov

Email script you can use

Please personalize this email script to explain why this matters to you! Share your love for our National Parks and why being able to express yourself in nature is so important. 

Subject: Reinstate Ranger SJ Joslin

Dear Acting Superintendent McPadden and Acting Deputy Superintendent Globokar,

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the unjust firing of Ranger Shannon “SJ” Joslin. This termination is a direct violation of their First Amendment rights, given that SJ’s expression was off-duty, used no park resources, and occurred at a time when Yosemite had no such regulations in place.

The decision to retroactively rewrite the Superintendent’s Compendium only underscores the discriminatory nature of this firing. Yosemite has a long history of climbers displaying flags on El Capitan. To punish SJ for this act of visibility is not only unconstitutional but discriminatory.

To strip SJ of their position is not only an affront to their personal freedom but an attack on the very values of service, dedication, and community that they embody to the Yosemite community. This is about silencing those who oppose injustice—and we must not let that happen.

The outdoors belong to all of us. Public lands must remain safe, inclusive spaces where everyone feels represented and welcome. Firing SJ sends a chilling message that some voices and identities are not allowed. That is unacceptable.

SJ Joslin is a respected ranger who has dedicated their career and countless volunteer hours to Yosemite National Park. Their reinstatement is vital, not just for their livelihood, but for the integrity and credibility of the National Park Service.

I strongly urge you to immediately reinstate SJ Joslin, initiate an independent investigation into this matter, and commit to upholding the constitutional rights of all NPS employees.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your City, State]

Addressing criticisms and concerns

Any time someone takes a stand for justice, critics will try to dismiss it. Here are some questions or criticisms that you might have. I hope this helps provide a clearer, more holistic picture. 

“SJ broke the rules.”

At the time the flag went up, there was no rule against it. Yosemite leadership rewrote the Superintendent’s Compendium the next day and backdated it to appear as though it had always existed. Retroactive enforcement is both unethical and unconstitutional.

“They didn't have the proper permits."

According to the termination letter, the firing was justified based on participation in "a small group demonstration in an area outside of the designated protest and demonstration area without a permit." However, SJ and colleagues (including Pattie Gonia) insist the flag was a personal act of identity celebration, not a protest requiring permits under park rules.

Even if it were a protest/demonstration, it still would have been allowed without permits. Per NPS regulations, demonstrations with fewer than 25 people can happen anywhere in the park without a permit, unless the Superintendent’s Compendium states otherwise. At the time (before this incident), Yosemite hadn’t banned such displays in wilderness areas. That restriction wasn’t codified until the day after the flag was flown, and then retroactively backdated to appear like it had always been in effect.

"Rangers should stay neutral, not political.”

That’s true while on duty. But SJ was off-duty, acting as a private citizen, and using no park resources. Civil servants do not lose their First Amendment rights when they clock out. If we allow federal agencies to punish employees for lawful, off-duty expression, it opens the door to censorship far beyond the outdoors.

“The flag was unsafe, didn't follow Leave No Trace, or was disrespectful to Yosemite.”

The flag was hung for two hours, taken down, and left no trace. Climbers have hung pirate flags, climate banners, and upside-down American flags on El Capitan for decades. None of those acts resulted in penalties. Selective enforcement here speaks volumes.

“This was political activism, not personal expression.”

Flying a Pride flag is not inherently partisan—it’s an expression of identity, visibility, and belonging. Yosemite has allowed other cultural banners without punishment. To call this “political” while allowing others is discriminatory.

“Rangers are held to a higher standard.”

And SJ has lived up to (and exceeded) that standard for years. They’ve cleared snow so visitors in wheelchairs could access bridges, trained in emergency response, and represented Yosemite at national conferences. Their record is spotless. To erase that over one lawful act is disproportionate and unjust.

“What if everyone started hanging banners?”

That’s what clear, consistent policy is for. Yosemite can set future rules, but they must apply fairly to everyone. Punishing one person with a retroactive policy is not regulation—it’s retaliation.

“People go to nature to see nature, not flags. I don’t think any flags should be hung in our parks.”

Sure, you could probably say most people probably don’t want to see flags in national parks. Most people don’t want to see other people in the parks. But here’s the thing: What people want doesn’t override the U.S. Constitution. This isn’t about whether you or I like it, it’s about whether someone can lose their career for lawful, off-duty expression. So sure, you can have your opinion about flags. But opinions don’t carry weight in a court of law. The real issue here is the wrongful firing of a ranger for practicing their First Amendment right. That’s the conversation.

"Keep politics out of our National Parks!"

The National Parks are political by design. They’re created and funded by Congress, managed by federal agencies, and shaped by laws and policies. The very existence of our public lands is political. This is like asking to keep water out of the ocean.

The outdoors are for everyone

At its core, this is about more than one flag or one ranger. It’s about who gets to belong in the outdoors.

The outdoors are for everyone: Queer people, trans people, disabled people, BIPOC, women, families, beginners, seasoned climbers, EVERYONE. Public lands are meant to be safe, inclusive spaces where all people can feel represented and at home.

When SJ flew the trans flag, it was not an act of destruction. It was a message of visibility and belonging. Yosemite leadership’s response sends the opposite message: That some voices, identities, and communities are not welcome. But that's not what our National Parks stand for, so we cannot let this go.

Let's get to work. As SJ said:

“I want my rights and I want my career back. So help me. Use your First Amendment right to broadcast my story as loudly and as widely as possible. Any connections to news outlets or any amplification is so appreciated. I have a small following and it would mean a lot for everyone to get this message out to the public.”