A federal judge dismisses a lawsuit filed by a former Yosemite National Park ranger who was fired after they helped display a large transgender pride flag in the park. Shannon “SJ” Joslin, who identifies as nonbinary, says they helped hang a 66-foot-wide transgender pride flag on or near El Capitan, a prominent rock formation that is visible from the park’s main thoroughfare, for about two hours on May 20, 2025, before taking it down voluntarily.
In a ruling reported by multiple outlets, U.S. District Judge Jennifer Thurston dismisses Joslin’s case, concluding that Joslin must follow the procedural requirements established by the Civil Service Reform Act rather than pursuing the claims through the lawsuit they filed. The judge says Joslin was a probationary employee at the time of their termination last year, and that the proper next step is to pursue the complaint process through the Office of Special Counsel, which Joslin has already done.
While the lawsuit is dismissed, the outlets report that Joslin can continue seeking review through that administrative channel, with a decision expected later, including an August timeframe mentioned by some sources.
