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Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Removing transgender books affects Rutherford library director search: 'Deeply concerned'
Rutherford County library officials lost a consultant for a director-search after deciding "to protect children" by removing books on transgender topics. The Rutherford County Library System Board had been working with Deiters & Todd Library Consulting in Chicago to pursue director applicants to replace Rita Shacklett, who retired early in 2024. First Amendment issue: Divided Rutherford County Library System Board bans transgender books 'to protect children' The consulting firm's services remained prior to the March 17 majority decision in a 5-3 vote to "remove material that promotes, encourages, advocates for or normalizes transgenderism or 'gender confusion' in minors." The same five in the majority of the board also voted to remove the picture book, "Me & My Dysphoria Monster" from the library system. The book is by author Laura Kate Dale and Illustrated by Ang Hui Qing. "Deiters & Todd stepped away from the search because of recent actions taken by the board," consulting firm partner Jim Deiters told The Daily News Journal. "As working librarians, we were deeply concerned by those decisions," said Deiters, adding that his firm returned the initial payment for the search to the library board. "Not an easy thing to do, but the right thing." Library board chairman Phil King said a search committee soon will move ahead to examine applicants for the system's director job. 2023 book banning decisions: Library supporters upset by board pulling 4 books say they're 'fighting against censorship' The board on Monday met in private executive session in Murfreesboro with Nashville attorney Robert "Bob" Burns "to discuss and seek input from counsel" pertaining to decisions to remove the books in question, he confirmed. While the meeting took place within a conference room of the library system's administrative offices, two protesters upset by the decisions to remove books stood outside by the edge of the parking lot holding signs. The sign Jessica Robertson of Murfreesboro offered the following message: "EVERBODY BELONGS AT THE LIBRARY." "I don't know why they are taking books off the shelf that represent people who exist in this world," Robertson said. Robertson recently told the board during the public comment part of the March 17 meeting that she's the mother of a transgender child. Complaint upsets officials: Speaker complaint on book on transgender topic disrupts Murfreesboro school board meeting Fellow book-freedom advocate Heather Ahmie of Rutherford County held a sign saying, "No room for BIGOTRY on our Shelves." "Where does it end?" Ahmie told The Daily News Journal. "You can't start erasing people from the public library, which is there for everyone." The board member's private executive session for legal counsel took place about a week before they meet next at 5 p.m. April 21 at Smyrna Public Library. The meeting agenda is yet to be announced on the library system's webpage. 'It was a hard decision': Murfreesboro school board bans book on transgender topic after December meeting disruption The library board officials also have also faced complaints about the book removal decisions in letters from three national free speech advocacy organizations: Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression in Philadelphia. National Coalition Against Censorship in New York; The Freedom to Read Foundation in Chicago. Free speech challenges: Rutherford library officials draw national opposition for removing books on transgender issues Burns, the library board's attorney, told The Daily News Journal that he thought the letters were reasonably well-written. "I reviewed and considered some, but not all, of the information and points contained in the letters," Burns said. 'We are banished': Rutherford County Board of Education book banning upsets free speech advocates The letter from the Freedom to Read Foundation came from Deborah Caldwell Stone, the organization's executive director. Stone questioned why the board would remove books based on "moral and religious beliefs" of individuals and organizations, "even though other parents believe these books are important and valued reading materials for their children." "Such viewpoint discrimination is both unconstitutional and problematic for public institutions, ascourts have consistently held that restricting intended readers' access to materials based on viewsexpressed in the books violates the First Amendment rights of library users of all ages," Stone said in her letter. "The First Amendment protects each person's right to access and read any book in a public librarythat a reasonable person would view as having literary, artistic, political, or scientific value,whether for an adult or for a minor." More book banning decisions: Rutherford schools removal of 160 more books draws opposition from 1st Amendment advocates Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@ To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription. This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Banning transgender books affects Rutherford library director search
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Divided Rutherford County Library System board bans transgender books focused on minors
Divided Rutherford County Library System Board members both angered and pleased a packed audience Monday by voting to remove books that "promote" transgender issues pertaining to minors. The majority of the voluntary board followed the lead of appointed member Cody York to "remove material that promotes, encourages, advocates for or normalizes transgenderism or 'gender confusion' in minors." "We need to protect children," York said with the support of about half of those in the audience. The Rutherford County Courthouse drew over 200 people on both sides of the issue, filling audience seats and lining the meeting room floor and balcony. They applauded, cheered, whistled and shouted — for and against — as speeches were given. Jessica Robertson of Murfreesboro was among 10 speakers during public comment to address the issue. She voiced her agreement with audience members holding signs that said, "Leave it on the shelf." "As the mother of a transgender child, the attempted erasure of my child in a public setting such as the library by members of this board is deplorable," Robertson told the board. "I am outraged by the audacity in the belief that this action item is acceptable in any way." Six out of 10 speakers opposed removing the books from the shelves. Robertson wore a T-shirt with words that say, "All Genders are Valid." She sat in the audience next to a fellow book freedom supporter Heather Ahmie, who held a sign with words and letters in different colors to tell the board this message: "More Pride, Less Prejudice, Ban Bigotry, Not Books." 'We are banished': Rutherford schools book banning upsets free speech advocates Many in the audience applauded and cheered for the comments and decisions of York and the majority of the board. Fellow library board members who agreed with York in removing the books are Marzee Woodward, Dina Piazza, Susan Quesenberry and Sam Huddleston, who's an assistant city manager for Murfreesboro. Three board members opposed the decision: Kory Wells, vice chairman Rollie Holden and Benjamin Groce, a Smyrna attorney who mentioned concerns about the book removal decisions being unconstitutional. Chairman Phil King abstains from voting unless there's a tie. Prior to the vote to remove books about "transgenderism," the same five majority of board members also voted to remove the picture book, "Me & My Dysphoria Monster" from the library system. The book is by author Laura Kate Dale and Illustrated by Ang Hui Qing. Wells and Groce opposed the removal of the book. Holden abstained. First Amendment issue: Library supporters upset by board pulling 4 books say they're 'fighting against censorship' Public comment speaker Robertson also questioned the board's use of "transgenderism" in banning books. "The word 'transgenderism' is considered derogatory, but you may already know that and that's why you chose to use it," Robertson told the board. "Now I am going to define the word bigotry as found on the Oxford Languages website: 'Obstinate or unreasonable attachment to a belief, opinion, or faction, in particular prejudice against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular group." The decision by the board also offended Chris Sanders, executive director of two advocacy groups promoting equal rights for LGBTQ+ people, Tennessee Equality Project and Tennessee Equality Project Foundation. "We used to talk about an informed democracy," Sanders said. "Last night's actions by the Library Board indicate some people in positions of authority are abandoning that idea by removing books about a whole group of people. The public deserves accurate information, particularly about trans people right now because of the concerted efforts to vilify them." This is a developing story. Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@ Follow him on Twitter @ScottBroden. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription. Kory Wells This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Rutherford County Library System board bans books on 'transgenderism'
