Florida Library Removes Gay Pride Displays After County Ban

-- Library Journal, 06/22/2005

After display at a branch library about gay and lesbian books generated controversy, members of the Hillsborough County Commission went even farther, voting 5-1 to ban the county government from acknowledging gay pride. Further, the commissioners voted 6-1 that they could repeal the policy only with a 5-2 supermajority, according to the St. Petersburg Times. A lawsuit is likely, as a lawyer for the National Center for Lesbian Rights told the newspaper that the policy violates free speech and equal protection rights for gays and lesbians.

Does the policy ban any display about gay issues at libraries? The sponsor, Councilwoman Ronda Storms said obliquely that she feels the language is clear. Joe Stines, director of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library, told LJ that, on the advice of the county attorney’s office, the library temporarily took down gay and lesbian book displays at three branches. “They’ve got to develop a policy,” he said of the county attorneys, “and submit it to the county administrator.” While he said librarians were confident that the policy didn’t apply to acquisition of materials or use of the library’s meeting room, they weren’t sure about book displays. “In my 30 years as a librarian, I’ve never had such angry comments,” he said regarding comments from the gay community about the policy. The library was not asked for input into the county policy, though the library board chairperson, speaking as an individual, told the county commission she opposed it.