Yosemite’s temporary wildlife biologist lost her job after hoisting a large trans pride flag on El Capitan, then sued to be reinstated and to block enforcement of park rules. A federal judge found the court lacked authority to undo the firing and dismissed the employment claims, while the Park Service reasserted that demonstrations need permits to protect visitors and resources. The case highlights tensions between political protest, public land rules, and the limits of federal court authority.
Shannon Joslin, a probationary wildlife biologist at Yosemite, drew national attention when they and allies fixed a sizable trans flag to the face of El Capitan on May 20, 2025. The act was billed by participants as a bold statement “in support of trans people,” and organizers said the cliff was a kind of megaphone for their message. Officials treated the action as a rule violation in a sensitive natural area, and the controversy turned quickly into an employment dispute.
Park management terminated Joslin during the two-year trial period for federal employees, citing misconduct and the requirement that demonstrations outside designated First Amendment areas need permits. The termination letter bluntly stated, “During your trial period, you have failed to demonstrate acceptable conduct.” That message set the stage for Joslin to seek intervention from multiple government avenues and then the courts.
Joslin first appealed to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel to stop the firing and later filed suit, asking a federal court to force reinstatement and to prevent the government from enforcing regulations against their protest. The case was transferred to California federal court and assigned to U.S. District Judge Jennifer Thurston. Judge Thurston, while using the preferred pronouns requested by the plaintiff in parts of her opinion, concluded the court did not have the power to grant the requested relief.
“The Court lacks jurisdiction to review Joslin’s termination or to offer any related relief, including a reinstatement,” wrote the judge. She explained that under existing statutes and precedent a federal district court lacks authority to reverse the personnel decision or to bar hypothetical criminal enforcement. That jurisdictional bar left Joslin without the judicial remedy they sought.
Thurston also quoted the government’s position: “The government claims for its part that Joslin was fired for reasons that had ‘nothing to do’ with ‘speech,'” and emphasized that the handling of personnel issues rests with the agency and the administrative process. The ruling underscores a separation between agency discipline and courts poking into employment decisions when Congress has set specific review limits. For Republicans and rule-of-law conservatives, the decision reinforced the importance of following statutory procedures rather than seeking courtroom second guesses.
The protest involved more than one performer. Participants included public figures who framed the action as celebration and civil disobedience, saying things like, “Call it a protest; call it a celebration,” and promising to “bring elevation to liberation.” Park officials said the demonstration occurred outside designated protest areas and without the required permit, which they said both harmed visitor experience and risked park resources.
After the dismissal of the complaint, the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service reissued a statement stressing that demonstrations without permits can detract from the visitor experience and that rules exist to protect the park. They reiterated their commitment to safeguarding resources and visitor safety, and their right to enforce laws that apply to everyone. With the court stepping back, the administrative and public-policy consequences of Joslin’s actions remain the operative response.
With reinstatement off the table, Joslin moved on to other projects, including plans for a film about wildlife and LGBTQ issues. The public debate this episode generated will likely continue to test how public lands balance free expression, permit processes, and common-sense protections for shared national treasures.
