Recently, the National Park Service issued a memo barring employees from attending Pride parades in uniform. Official participation appears uncertain, and many LGBQT+ Rangers are feeling defeated.
I’m surprised they allowed it at all. Usually any organization, public or private, will tell employees not to imply endorsement of anything not officially sponsored.
I’m also surprised that Stonewall is a national monument. Apparently it was an Obama decision, so I guess it was a fuck-you to hate.
Are they barred from veteran’s day and St. Patrick’s Day parades as well, or does the NPS participate in those? How about 4th of July?
Has this always been the case? If not, who was on the board that made the decision and what is their political affiliation?
In a world where half the electorate thinks a judge must be prejudiced and has no problem with their autocratic leader saying that ethnicity decides whether someone is “fair,” I think these are legitimate followup questions.
We needed a de-trumpification of the government. Anyone appointed by Trump or hired by an appointee should have been dismissed. This is basically what Trump is planning on doing.
This comes from Frank Lands, who joined NPS in 2021. The director of NPS, Chuck Sams, was confirmed also in 2021. Both are from the Biden administration.
NPS has walked in the SF pride parade for years. Any large org will have a contingent, it’s a normal part of being in the community here. Usually the LGBT employees will take part, but allies can too … it’s participation in a community event.
NPS rangers don’t just represent the org, but they also represent the idea of working in the outdoors/in conservation. If you’re a young person who wants to work outdoors one day, it makes a huge difference to see that people like you are allowed to openly be themselves especially considering that machismo past of NPS and outdoors work.
NPS isn’t just about nature, in SF NPS controls Alcatraz and you can bet your ass that all the rangers who have learned all about the history have strong views about the prison system today. NPS is a contingent of the government with very strong values, what they choose to conserve, what history they choose to tell … I don’t think it’s any different to have employees show up at pride.
I’m surprised they allowed it at all. Usually any organization, public or private, will tell employees not to imply endorsement of anything not officially sponsored.
I’m also surprised that Stonewall is a national monument. Apparently it was an Obama decision, so I guess it was a fuck-you to hate.
Are they barred from veteran’s day and St. Patrick’s Day parades as well, or does the NPS participate in those? How about 4th of July?
Has this always been the case? If not, who was on the board that made the decision and what is their political affiliation?
In a world where half the electorate thinks a judge must be prejudiced and has no problem with their autocratic leader saying that ethnicity decides whether someone is “fair,” I think these are legitimate followup questions.
We needed a de-trumpification of the government. Anyone appointed by Trump or hired by an appointee should have been dismissed. This is basically what Trump is planning on doing.
This comes from Frank Lands, who joined NPS in 2021. The director of NPS, Chuck Sams, was confirmed also in 2021. Both are from the Biden administration.
NPS has walked in the SF pride parade for years. Any large org will have a contingent, it’s a normal part of being in the community here. Usually the LGBT employees will take part, but allies can too … it’s participation in a community event.
NPS rangers don’t just represent the org, but they also represent the idea of working in the outdoors/in conservation. If you’re a young person who wants to work outdoors one day, it makes a huge difference to see that people like you are allowed to openly be themselves especially considering that machismo past of NPS and outdoors work.
NPS isn’t just about nature, in SF NPS controls Alcatraz and you can bet your ass that all the rangers who have learned all about the history have strong views about the prison system today. NPS is a contingent of the government with very strong values, what they choose to conserve, what history they choose to tell … I don’t think it’s any different to have employees show up at pride.