
It passed the state's lower house, but a tie vote in the state senate's Education Committee failed to bring it to the state senate floor. The bill did not become law.Ī proposed ban in Arkansas would have barred any representation of gay and lesbian people in schools, libraries, and state-funded universities. Republican lawmaker Gerald Allen proposed Alabama House Bill 30 (HB30), which would have banned public school libraries from purchasing books by gay authors or with gay characters. Local columnist Jan Gildewell wrote that the policy "indicates to me that reception of intellectual freedom awards is no guarantee of continued freedom-or intellect." 2005 Alabama Many community members felt the library was de facto censorship. The Florida Library Association awarded Buztrey and two other county staff members with the Intellectual Freedom Award for invoking the First Amendment. to promote library-related activities."Ĭounty commissioners stated that this would protect them from "the potential of nonsanctioned radical groups such as Nazis" from creating their own displays. She issued a written statements that going forward, all displays would be "created and sponsored by the library itself. Laurel Solomon was the Library Services Director at that time.

This would leave the county open to a lawsuit. Responses were both positive and negative.Īssistant County Attorney Bill Buztrey informed county commissioners that removing the display could be considered a violation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Hernando county offices and the library system received phone calls and letters. Books by the authors and red ribbons were displayed, along with a poster detailing the contributions of the authors to literature.

The branch is part of the Hernando County Florida Library System.Īuthors such as Alexander the Great, Gertrude Stein, and Walt Whitman were among the gay and lesbian authors that were included in the display.

In September 1996, a local chapter of the national Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) created a display in the West Hernando/Staffordene T. Proposed bans of LGBTQ-themed books in the United States. This list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items.
