Shannon “SJ” Joslin was part of a group that hung a huge transgender Pride flag in Yosemite National Park last May — and Joslin got fired from their job as a park ranger for their message of inclusion.
Yet raising that banner remains their proudest moment of the year, says Joslin, who is nonbinary and gay. “The flag was a symbol of welcoming for trans people in the outdoors,” they say. “It embodied what the natural world is — diverse and inclusive — and what humanity should seek to achieve — acceptance.”
Their firing “also exposed how other federal employees are being silenced for having identities or holding views that go against the current administration,” they say.
While fighting the termination, Joslin is looking for a job and hopes to continue educating others about the natural world. An avid rock climber and guidebook author, Joslin seeks to make the outdoors accessible to all.
“Diverse ecosystems are healthy ecosystems,” they say. “That sentiment doesn't just stop in the wild — it is also true within societies. All of us are natural, and all of us matter.” @shannonekj
