Yosemite climbers just hung a huge trans Pride flag from El Capitan: ‘Visibility and resistance'
It's an 'act of visibility and resistance' meant to raise awareness about what the climbers call discrimination against transgender people by the Trump administration, according to a statement from the group, which described itself as a coalition of transgender, queer and allied climbers.
'Trans people belong in nature, in community and everywhere,' the group said.
The demonstration comes amid the Trump administration's moves to eliminate institutional support of diversity, equity and inclusion across the federal government and in higher education, with many private companies following suit as well. In its statement, the group says the administration is 'actively working to erase trans people from government databases, education systems, libraries and discriminate against queer and trans park rangers in the National Park system.'
The transgender Pride flag, which has appeared at LGBT+ gatherings for the past quarter-century, shows five horizontal stripes in light blue, pink and white — colors chosen to symbolize masculine, feminine and trans or gender-neutral identities.
The climber group claims the flag they unfurled Tuesday morning, which measures 55 feet by 35 feet, 'is the largest flag ever displayed on El Capitan.' It was hung on the Heart Ledges, a famously visible granite feature about 1,500 feet off the ground.
Yosemite Valley has been the site of several political protests this year denouncing the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency. Tuesday's demonstration comes three months after a group of Yosemite National Park staffers hung a large, upside-down American flag — symbolizing distress — from the top of El Capitan during the annual Firefall spectacle. That instance was meant to draw attention to sweeping job cuts affecting federal public lands workers.
Nate Vince, a coordinator of the Firefall flag display who was also involved in Tuesday's demonstration, said in the statement, 'Everyone deserves respect. Trans people are my friends. I step up when my friends need help and we all need to step up right now for trans people.'
One of the lead organizers of the Pride flag demonstration is Pattie Gonia, an outdoor enthusiast, drag queen and social media personality who is an outspoken advocate of connecting trans people to the outdoors.
'Let this flag fly higher than hate,' Pattie Gonia said in the group's statement. 'We are done being polite about trans people's existence. Call it a protest, call it a celebration — either way, it's giving elevation to liberation.'
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