Rye Republicans: Our Rye Public Library, elected representatives, and why it matters!

Yahoo

25-05-2025

Many have followed the Rye Public Library - NH Outright event scheduled for May 29th. It was postponed indefinitely by the Trustees because the Library employees scheduling this event were engaging in advocacy for an ideology which our Rye Public Library (RPL) is not supposed to do. Imagine the library advocating for an NRA event, Pro-life event, or even a MAGA event, and you can see why neutrality is the best policy.Lots of town residents and even members of our Rye Republicans group voiced their concerns. Some pointed out that the RPL sponsoring such an event implied Rye citizen agreement with the NH Outright Program while others simply didn't want the RPL advocating...period.The NH Outright Mission Statement "Our mission is to serve, support and advocate for LGBTQIA+ youth and allies across New Hampshire", the focus of their advertised program " Practical Allyship 101" and their programs targeting grades K-12 demonstrate a specific ideology and agenda. This implies that the youth have already made a priori alternative lifestyle choice. Rather, it is our view that, under the guise of "support", NH Outright is proselytizing alternative lifestyles to youth who: 1) may be struggling personally and/or socially, and 2) may be very susceptible to the power of suggestion. Indeed, these youth deserve our compassion and support, but their vulnerability should not be exploited by proselytizers offering alternative lifestyles as therapy.We as a group oppose no lifestyle for any adults, live and let live. Many of us have lesbian and gay friends and family members and love them all. Contrary to the outright slander and vicious attack from some, we are not censors, bigots, or bullies. We simply feel that advocating alternative lifestyles FOR YOUTH is a controversial enough topic that our town's public library should not be taking a position. We call upon our Library Trustees and Director to maintain a position of neutrality on matters that are politically or socially controversial.
No citizens of Rye require "Allyship" to feel welcome in our Library. The False Narrative; "Republicans Hate LGBTQIA+ " is ridiculous (but proved to be very effective in this matter). Seriously, do you really believe there are no Republicans in the LGBTQIA+ sphere? The REAL objection to the program, lost on the Trustees and Library staff was having our Library employees act as activists and advocate for an ideology. Think back to NRA, Pro - Life, MAGA, and tell me it's okay.Our elected officials are voted in, trusting that decisions they make are consistent for all members of the community and not slanted toward one political group or another. In this particular situation, the Library Trustees majority recognized they were straying from the neutral position they were obligated to uphold and voted 4-0 appropriately canceling the NH Outright event. After the Trustees voted to postpone the event, there was significant hue and cry from advocates. Much of this backlash was hateful, objectionable behavior, which ultimately led to the Trustees reversing their vote 4-1 and allowing reschedule of the program. We are deeply disappointed with the Trustees' revocation of the earlier decision, particularly since the neutrality position remains compromised.Michael Bean, on behalf of Rye Republicans Executive Committee
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Rye Republicans: Disappointed in library reversal on LGBTQIA+ event