5,000 signatures reached
To: National Park Service
Let park rangers march in Pride parades!
On May 24, after backlash from the LGBTQ+ community and allies, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland reversed the earlier policy forbidding employees from participating in local events in uniform!
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The National Park Service just announced to 20,000 of its employees that it will not allow rangers to march in non-NPS Pride parades in their official uniforms.
Our national parks should make it clear that they are open to all! Sign the petition to demand NPS support their LGBTQ+ employees and visitors, and reverse this bigoted, anti-LGBTQ policy!
Why is this important?
The NPS policy bans “participating in or attending any demonstration or public event wherein the wearing of the uniform could be construed as agency support for a particular issue, position, or political party.” It also appears like they are banning pins, buttons, and “ribbons” that are not in official capacity.
The email iterating the policy was sent less than a month before the start of Pride and was sparked because of requests from employees. Frank Lands, the Deputy Director of Operations at NPS, said that “approving participation in some events and not others could be seen as discrimination based on viewpoint.” NPS itself holds Pride events—so marching in local Pride parades is in line with their internal and external support for LGBTQ+ rights. Supporting and celebrating LGBTQ+ folks shouldn't be a controversial political position—the fact that it may be viewed that way is because of egregious assaults that make it all the more critical for institutions across the country to affirm their support and empower their employees. The identities of LGBTQ+ park rangers don’t change when they put on and take off their uniform, and they should be able to celebrate their identity publicly all year long.
Historically, LGBTQ+ people have experienced disproportionate surveillance and policing in public parks. And LGBTQ+ people continue to face specific barriers when trying to access public parks, including harassment and discrimination. Still, only 30% of park and recreation agencies have programming specifically tailored to LGBTQ+ communities. The NPS should focus on actively doing outreach to LGBTQ+ community members, not banning employees from self-expression or prohibiting their presence at their local Pride events.
LGBTQ+ people deserve to feel safe, welcome, and celebrated everywhere. Sign the petition to urge NPS to allow their park rangers to march in community and local Pride parades, and demand NPS commit to publicly supporting their LGBTQ+ employees and visitors.
PHOTO: METRO WEEKLY/Sean Burgandy, Todd Franson and Ward Morrison
PHOTO: METRO WEEKLY/Sean Burgandy, Todd Franson and Ward Morrison
