Librarian Fired For Refusing To Move Books To Adult Section | EUROtoday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee library board has fired the county’s high librarian for refusing to adjust to its vote to maneuver greater than 100 LGBTQ books from the kids’s to the grownup part over its claims that they promote “gender confusion.”

The Rutherford County Library Board voted 8-3 on Monday night to fireplace library system director Luanne James. James has beforehand stated that relocating the books would violate her and county residents’ First Amendment rights and compromise her skilled obligation towards government-mandated viewpoint discrimination.

The case establishes the county southeast of Nashville as one other focus within the yearslong nationwide struggle over library content material, typically centering on racial and LGBTQ themes.

“Her story will echo from the Courthouse in Murfreesboro, TN, across the county, as emblematic of the fight against censorship and suppression,” stated Kasey Meehan, director of the Freedom to Read program for PEN America, which advocates for freedom of expression on behalf of writers.

Last fall, a former Wyoming library director gained $700,000 to settle a lawsuit after her firing. Terri Lesley was eliminated throughout an uproar over books with sexual content material and LGBTQ themes that some individuals sought their elimination from youth cabinets, although Campbell County officers contended that solely her efficiency performed a job in her firing.

Additionally, in December, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to listen to an enchantment on a Texas free speech case that allowed native officers to take away books deemed objectionable from public libraries.

The Tennessee determination stems from a March 16 vote by the board to relocate the books to the grownup part in county libraries. During that assembly, board Chairman Cody York stated it’s harmful and inaccurate to inform kids, significantly these going by puberty, that boys will be women and women will be boys.

Two days later, James emailed the board and stated she wouldn’t transfer the books. The assembly Monday was peppered with cheers and boos from the viewers. When it was James’ flip to talk, she stated, “I stand by my decision and I will not change my mind.” After the board voted to fireplace her, James’ legal professional learn a press release from her during which she stated she thought the firing was an illegal act of viewpoint discrimination.

“Librarians should not be used as a filter for political agendas,” the assertion stated. “I stood up for the right to read, standing for the citizens of Rutherford County.”

Rutherford County faculty board member Caleb Tidwell, in the meantime, spoke in favor of transferring the books out of the part for youth readers.

“Follow the law,” stated Tidwell, who began his public feedback with a prayer. “Protect the children. Hold the line.”

Last yr, the Tennessee Secretary of State’s workplace despatched letters to library programs throughout the state requesting speedy evaluations of what was of their kids’s sections. They say libraries that obtain federal and state funding should adjust to relevant legal guidelines, and talked about Trump’s government order about gender ideology.

James was appointed because the county library director in July 2025. She has labored for greater than 25 years in public library roles, together with directorships in Texas and South Carolina.