Report: “Lawmaker Calls For Changes at Archives and History After Lecture on Alabama’s LGBTQ History”

From AL.com:

A bill to take $5 million in state funds from the Alabama Department of Archives and History because it hosted a one-hour lecture on LGBTQ history did not pass during the special session that ended Friday.

But the sponsor, Sen. Chris Elliott, a Republican from Baldwin County, said he plans to bring legislation next year that he said would make Archives and History more accountable to taxpayers and responsive to legislators.

Elliott said he believes the LGBTQ history lecture clashed with what most people in Alabama believe is appropriate for a state agency and that Archives and History Director Steve Murray should have cancelled it after he and other lawmakers raised objections.

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Elliott said his bill next year would propose changes to how the Archives and History board of trustees is appointed. He said the agency could expect more scrutiny of its budget.

“I think the underlying issue here is that this department is not and has not been listening to the appropriators and the legislators,” Elliott said. “And their board is clearly out of touch with what the people of Alabama want. And so, the Legislature is going to take action on that.”

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