Tennessee librarian fired for refusing to move queer books would ‘do it again’
Fired Tennessee librarian Luanne James (WSMV-TV)
The Tennessee librarian who was recently fired for refusing to remove LGBTQ+ books from the library’s children’s section has said she “had no choice” and would do the same again.
Luanne James, who worked as a library director in Rutherford County, spoke publicly about her firing with Nashville NBC affiliate WSMV-TV on 3 April. “I’m very disappointed,” she told the broadcaster. “I had no choice, I had to do what I had to do.”
In an 18 March letter James sent to the library board, she argued that relocating 132 LGBTQ+-themed titles from the children’s section to the adults’ section would amount to “viewpoint discrimination” and violate the First Amendment, writing plainly: “Therefore, I will not comply.”
Library board chair Cody York defended the move as a way to limit children’s exposure to content he considers inappropriate. Free speech advocates say the effort targets LGBTQ+ representation rather than explicit material.
When James still refused to move the books, the Rutherford County library board voted to terminate her.
James said of the decision: “By doing this, I think they are politicising librarians and that is not what we signed up for as librarians. In my 25 years, I’ve only experienced this since after COVID. I’ve never seen anything like this until recently.”
‘I would make the decision again’
The former librarian shared that she still stands by her refusal to remove the books. “I would not change my mind,” she said.
“I would make the decision again. If this makes a difference for our librarians across the country, then I’m glad. I’m uncomfortable, but if it makes a difference for the librarians and this finally comes to a stop, then I’m okay with that.”
In a statement shared with The Advocate, PEN America praised James’ refusal to comply with the library board.
Kasey Meehan, director of PEN America’s Freedom to Read programme, said: “Luanne James was voted out of her library director position for refusing to move LGBTQ+ books into the adult section.”
She continued: “With a firm: ‘I will not comply,’ Luanne demonstrated her deep commitment to the freedom to read and the principles of librarianship at a steep cost. Her story will echo from the Courthouse in Murfreesboro, TN, across the county, as emblematic of the fight against censorship and suppression.”
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