Yosemite climbers unfurl transgender pride flag on iconic El Capitan
Trans Is Natural, which describes itself as a coalition of transgender, queer and ally climbers, said in a statement that its members unfurled the flag 'in an act of solidarity and resistance.'
They said the trans pride flag, which is 55 feet by 35 feet, is the largest flag ever displayed on El Capitan. The climbers hung the flag 1,500 feet up El Capitan, on the granite monolith's 'Heart Ledges,' between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. PT and displayed it until around noon, when park officials directed that it be removed, though the climbers said they were not told that they had broken any park rules, according Jess Fiaschetti, the group's media contact.
The National Park Service and Yosemite National Park did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
'We flew the Trans pride flag in Yosemite to make a statement: Trans people are natural and Trans people are loved,' drag performer and environmentalist Pattie Gonia, one of the demonstration's lead organizers, said in a statement. 'Let this flag fly higher than hate. 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.'
The group noted that the demonstration comes as the Trump administration has removed mentions of transgender and intersex people from government websites, including from the website for the Stonewall National Monument. The New York City monument commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising, which historians believe was led in part by trans people and which is largely considered a turning point in the modern gay rights movement.
Nate Vince, a climber who was involved in raising an upside-down U.S. flag during Yosemite's firefall event in February to protest the Trump administration's cuts of National Park Service employees, said in the statement shared by Trans Is Natural that 'everyone deserves respect.'
'Trans people are my friends,' Vince said. 'I step up when my friends need help and we all need to step up right now for Trans people.'
The climbers hung the flag on the 'Heart Ledges' as a way to reclaim space in the heart of Yosemite, their statement said.
'Raising this flag in the heart of El Capitan is a celebration of our community standing in solidarity with each other and all targeted groups,' SJ Joslin, a conservationist and a lead organizer of the demonstration, said in a statement. 'Trans existence is not up for debate. We are social workers, public servants, parents, and neighbors. Being trans is a natural, beautiful part of human and biological diversity. We can only make progress when we embrace diversity, not erase it.'
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Watch: Courageous squirrel goes toe-to-toe with rattlesnake in California
SAN DIEGO – A brave squirrel was seen coming face-to-face with a rattlesnake in California. Footage captured by San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Manager Sally Brown showed the courageous ground squirrel tossing wood chips and jumping around to fend off a Southern Pacific rattlesnake. Every so often, the rodent would stop and flick its tail to appear imposing during the stand-off with the reptile. According to the refuge, ground squirrels not only protect themselves but also protect their burrows and warn other nearby squirrels of predators. Watch: Arizona Police Officer Leaps Into Water To Save Dog Stuck In Canal "These clever critters have evolved unique anti-snake tactics," read a statement shared by the refuge. "They kick sand, heat up their tails to confuse the snake's heat sensors, and throw debris to drive predators away." Refuge officials said that the encounter likely started after the rattlesnake took a young squirrel for dinner. According to the National Park Service, rattlesnakes prey on a wide range of animals, including mice, small birds, gophers and other small mammals they may article source: Watch: Courageous squirrel goes toe-to-toe with rattlesnake in California Solve the daily Crossword
.png&w=3840&q=100)
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Miami Herald
Watch as moose cool off under sprinklers in Idaho. ‘Free dinner and a shower'
Two young moose were spotted cooling off in sprinklers in an Idaho field, a video shows. The animals then had quite the adventure, with numerous sightings across the city of Blackfoot. The wild animals were filmed July 22 as they lounged in a field under sprinklers, Brenda Stanley posted in Life in Blackfoot, a page on Facebook. Stanley could not be immediately reached by McClatchy News on July 24. 'Free dinner and a shower, can't get any better than that,' someone commented on the post. 'Hot moose cooling off,' another person wrote. The moose were then caught on camera near Walmart and Super 8, one person shared in a Facebook post. 'Mooses on the looses!!' Stephanie Herbert wrote. More sightings were reported of the yearling male and female in parking lots near Ridley's Family Markets store and Taco Bell, the Idaho Fish and Game said in a July 23 news release. Wildlife officers, with help from police and animal control, tranquilized the animals and relocated them to a 'remote area,' officials said. The agency reminded the public to keep a distance from moose. 'Though moose can look a little awkward and clumsy, they are quick animals known to charge when people and pets get too close,' wildlife officials said in the release. Blackfoot is in eastern Idaho. What to know about moose Moose are protective animals and will 'defend themselves if they perceive a threat,' according to the National Park Service. If someone encounters a moose, they should give it space to leave, wildlife officials said. People shouldn't try to haze a moose to move out of the way. 'Don't be aggressive,' the National Park Service said. 'You want to convince the moose that you aren't a threat.' Wildlife officials said people should do the following if you see a moose: Stay undetected if the moose hasn't spotted you. Talk softly and move the moose charges, take cover and put something between you and the moose or run away.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
What is a 'lesbian bottom?' LGBTQ+ sex experts explain & give tips for how to do it right
The terms 'bottom' and 'top' have been around since the gay leather scene got it's start in the '50s, but while most people know what it means when you're talking about gay sex — terms to differentiate between someone who likes to be penetrated during sex and the one who wants to penetrate — what is a 'lesbian bottom?' The terms top and bottom may have been coined by and for gay men, but the broader queer community and especially sapphics have taken to using the terms to describe sexual dynamics too. Even the straights have tried to co-opt the terms, though they consistently get it wrong and conflate 'top' and 'bottom' with 'dominant' and 'submissive.' They clearly have never met a bossy bottom, power bottom, or service top. But it can get complicated in sapphic relationships because queer women are more likely to both give and receive sexual pleasure in a relationship, unless they are a stone top or a pillow princess. And while being a 'bottom' usually refers to a preference in positions, it can also be shorthand for a sexual dynamic — especially in sapphic relationships. So what exactly is a "lesbian bottom?" To figure it all out, we talked to LGBTQ+ sex and relationship experts to find out what a lesbian bottom really is, and some tips and tricks for being the best lesbian bottom around. What is a lesbian bottom? Iryna Kalamurza/Shuttestock Ok, so you know what gay men mean when they say they're a bottom, but what is a 'lesbian bottom?' 'When sapphics or lesbians talk about being a 'bottom,' they're typically referring to a partner who enjoys receiving touch, sensation, or stimulation during sex — whether that's physical or emotional,' Emily Lambert Robins, a licensed clinical social worker and AASECT-certified sex therapist, tells PRIDE. 'It's less about a rigid role and more about a preference for surrender, receptivity, and being attuned to what feels good when letting someone else take the lead.' These terms seem simpler when a dick is in play, and penetration is usually on the sexual menu, but for sapphics, it can look a little different. 'For some, that can look like being on the receiving end of oral sex, strap play, or sensual touch. For others, it might be more about an emotional dynamic rooted in trust, vulnerability, and responsiveness,' Robins continues. Just like some people try to peg bottoms as always being submissive and tops as always dominant, people tend to pigeonhole butch and femme lesbians into specific roles in the bedroom, but butch bottoms and femme tops do exist. 'What's important to note here is that these terms reflect identities that help people understand and communicate to others what they find fulfilling, pleasurable, or affirming,' explains Willow Sipling, an LGBT advocate, subject matter expert, and sociologist. Is it all about positions? Sexual positions are just part of the picture. Lesbian tops are more likely to be the one strapping, or giving oral sex, but that's not all the term encompasses. 'While physical positions may play a role, being a bottom often speaks to a certain energetic position: one of openness, willingness, and connection,' Robins says. 'Some bottoms love being guided or 'done to,' while others express strong preferences and communicate boundaries clearly. It's a dance of power, trust, and pleasure that can look different depending on the relationship, mood, or moment. The key is how the experience makes someone feel, not how it looks from the outside.' According to Byrd, a certified sex educator who specializes in queerness from Sex Ed With Byrd, lesbian bottoms also want to relinquish control. 'Being a lesbian bottom isn't just about who's receiving or who's on the bottom physically,' they explain. 'Among lesbians and sapphics, bottoming often blends physicality, sensation, emotional dynamics, and power play, but it doesn't always include all of those at once. For some, it's a preference for receiving pleasure. For others, it's about being submissive in bed. And sometimes, it's just a playful label that helps describe a dynamic that's hard to name otherwise.' What makes a good lesbian bottom? A good lesbian bottom doesn't need to 'perform in a specific way,' Robins says, but should be 'present, communicative, and connected to their body' and be self aware enough to know 'what feels good and what doesn't,' is open to trying new things, expresses both boundaries sand desires clearly, and is responsive in bed so that your top can understand your desire by paying attention to your 'word, sounds, or movement.' Women, and femme presenting people, are socialized to be giving and helpful and so it can be difficult to set that social conditions aside be a little greedy about your own pleasure, but Byrd points out that being a good lesbian bottom means allowing yourself to 'receive, without guilt or pressure to perform.' Tips for improving your bottoming skills Roman Chazov/Shutterstock Play with power dynamics! For some lesbians and sapphics, bottoming and submission are connected. 'That can be explored through dirty talk, light restraints, or role play—always consensually,' Robins recommends. Don't wait for your partner to guess what feels good. Do some cool exploring if you need to before bringing a partner into the equation. Use your words! Sounds are great, but throw in a 'Yes, just like that,' 'slower,' or 'right there' so your top knows what feels good. This goes for if something hurts or is uncomfortable too. 'Explore sensation and pleasure, not just climax. You don't have to be goal-oriented to have a satisfying experience,' Byrd says. But what if it's your first time? Choose a sexual partner who respects you, your voice, and the pace you want to go at in bed. Bottoming requires a level of surrender that is easier if you trust your partner. Control your breathing to help with those pesky first-time nerves. 'Slow, intentional breathing can help calm nerves, increase sensation, and keep you present during intimacy. If you notice yourself tensing or holding your breath, try exhaling gently and resetting,' Robins recommends. Be honest about being new to this. It might help you rid yourself of some of your nerves to be up front about your level of experience, and it will help your partner create a better experience for you. Don't stress about perfection. This is your first time, and you're still learning, so try to focus more on exploration and playfulness than your performance. Make sure to spend some time on aftercare. Cuddling, laughing together, and talking through the experience can help you reconnect to your partner after the intense experience of bottoming for the first time. There can never be enough lube! Biggest mistake lesbian bottoms make Lesbian bottoms often make the mistake of performing, instead of focusing on their authentic reactions. It's also important not to push past or ignore your own bounders in an attempt to please your top, this will just lead to a bad experience for everyone involved. 'There's also a misconception that bottoming means being passive, but in reality, a connected and attuned bottom is fully engaged, just in a more receptive, responsive way. The most satisfying experiences come from knowing your limits, communicating clearly, and staying present with your own pleasure,' Robins explains. Sipling agrees, 'Many tops receive gratification from pleasing the bottom they are having an encounter with. For one to know what gets them going, and then to communicate this information with a top, can lead to a satisfying encounter for everyone.' What should you do if you get performance anxiety? Nicoleta Linescu./Shuttestock "It's completely normal to feel nervous stepping into a new role, especially when it involves vulnerability, trust, and intimacy,' Robins assures. 'Performance anxiety often shows up when we put pressure on ourselves to do things 'right,' but bottoming isn't about getting it perfect—it's about being present and attuned to your own experience.' If you're feeling nervous, talk to your partner about it, and be honest about what is freaking you out. If nerves are getting the best of you, try 'lying back and receiving a massage or kiss, and build from there,' instead of committing to using toys, penetrative sex, or exploring power dynamics on night one, Byrd says. 'Remind yourself that there's no script to follow. You get to define what bottoming means for you, at your own pace, with consent and care leading the way,' Robins agrees. Experts Cited: Emily Lambert Robins, a licensed clinical social worker and AASECT-certified sex therapist. Willow Sipling, an LGBT advocate, subject matter expert, and sociologist. Byrd, a certified sex educator who specializes in queerness from Sex Ed With Byrd. This article originally appeared on Pride: What is a 'lesbian bottom?' LGBTQ+ sex experts explain & give tips for how to do it right RELATED Common power bottom myths you probably believe 15 things all bottoms want tops to understand 17 simple tips for new bottoms you need to know, according to sex experts Solve the daily Crossword
