Yosemite Biologist Who Hung Trans Pride Flag From El Capitan Is Fired

Real biologist or self-idennified?

The National Park Service has fired a wildlife biologist at Yosemite National Park who helped drape a large transgender pride flag from El Capitan in May, saying that the demonstration had taken place in a prohibited area and lacked the required permits.

The former employee, Shannon Joslin, 35, who studies bats and has a Ph.D. in genetics, received a termination letter from the Park Service on Aug. 12.

A PhD in genetics but thinks people can change sex.

In the letter, the park’s acting deputy superintendent, Danika Globokar, wrote that Dr. Joslin, who is gay and identifies as nonbinary, had “failed to demonstrate acceptable conduct” by taking part in the May 20 demonstration.

Wait what? How can you be gay and nonbinary? If you’re nonbinary what can “gay” even mean? You’re either both sexes or neither, so you can’t be a lesbian or a gay man.

Is this just greedy grabbing everything you can reach before somebody smacks your hand? The ice cream and the pie and the cake and the chocolates?

On May 21, the park’s acting superintendent signed a new rule outlawing the display of large flags, banners and signs at El Capitan — the park’s iconic cliff — and most of the California park altogether. The move coincided with a broader push by the federal government to limit political demonstrations on public lands, especially those critical of the policies of the Trump administration.

Frankly I’m surprised this hasn’t always been a rule. Who the hell wants to see banners in national parks in the first place? It seems like draping advertising over all the paintings in the Rijksmuseum.

The spokeswoman, Rachel Pawlitz, said that the Park Service would not comment about personnel actions or criminal investigations.

“Several unauthorized demonstrations involving El Capitan generated numerous complaints from visitors,” Ms. Pawlitz said. “Yosemite National Park was designated by Congress to highlight the beautiful natural and cultural features of the area. No matter the cause, displaying signs, banners, and flags outside of designated First-Amendment areas detracts from the visitor experience and the protection of the park.”

Even if this is Trump-approved or Trump admin-approved, I agree with it. Don’t be sticking personal tat on natural beauty or human works of art. Leave them alone.

In February, before the rule took effect, a small group of protesters hung an inverted American flag — a signal of distress that began with sailors — off the side of El Capitan to protest the Trump administration’s cuts to the Park Service.

Plenty of eyes were already fixated on El Capitan for the annual phenomenon known as firefall, when the light from the setting sun causes a seasonal waterfall to glow orange.

The display occurred shortly after at least 1,000 Park Service employees were abruptly dismissed from their jobs, part of a sweeping federal work force downsizing initiative that was once overseen by President Trump’s now-estranged ally Elon Musk.

Welllll that’s a little different. The flag was at the side, which I take to mean it didn’t obscure what people go there to see, and it was about an issue that does affect Yosemite and national parks in general.

But in general? Don’t stick your tacky posters on the sunset.