In a striking act of protest, a group of trans-identifying and queer activists ascended the iconic El Capitan in Yosemite National Park to display what they claim is the largest Trans Pride flag flown in a national park. The event, which occurred on May 21, 2025, was aimed at challenging recent actions by the Trump administration regarding transgender visibility on government websites.
El Capitan, a 3,000-foot vertical rock formation that is a mecca for climbers worldwide, served as the canvas for the 55-by-35-foot flag, symbolizing transgender pride and solidarity. The group, undertaking the action as part of the "Trans is Natural" project, worked collaboratively to transport and deploy the flag on the sheer granite face, making it visible to the spectators in the valley below.
The colorful display, documented by self-identified environmentalist and drag artist Pattie Gonia, drew eyes from all around the park. Gonia, who donned a park ranger drag costume for the occasion, captured the climbers' efforts as they unfolded the flag along a crevice on El Capitan. In a video posted online, Gonia highlighted the motivation behind the demonstration. “Some carry hate; we carry the largest trans pride flag ever flown in a national park and unfurled it on the side of El Cap to prove a point,” Gonia stated. Their message was clear: "Trans is natural."
The group's press release, as reported by the Daily Caller, described the act as "a celebration of trans belonging in nature, in community, and everywhere." The flag was meant to serve as a beacon for those feeling out of place, whether in their bodies or within the country.
This demonstration was a direct response to executive orders from President Trump, which led to the removal of references to transgender individuals from various government websites, including the National Park Service's page about the Stonewall Uprising. Notably, historical information about trans-identifying activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera was deleted from the Stonewall page earlier in the year.
However, the display was short-lived. At approximately 11:30 a.m. PST, park officials ordered the removal of the flag. While no specific rule violations were cited, the group's spokesperson confirmed compliance with the directive, prioritizing the safety of the team as the primary reason for the flag's removal.
The act of defiance caught the attention of social media, with tweets circulating that shared images of the flag and expressed the activists' intent to convey that being transgender is "natural."
The demonstration in Yosemite represents a confluence of environmental activism, LGBTQ+ rights, and political protest. It reflects a wider discourse on visibility, representation, and the politics of public spaces. While the flag has been taken down, the message it carried continues to resonate, sparking conversations about the intersection of identity and policy in America's current socio-political climate.
