Georgia: “Monroe County Commissioner Says He Wants to Defund the Monroe County Library if it Doesn’t Move LGBTQ+ Themed Books Out of its Children and Young Adult Sections”

From The Telegraph (Macon, GA):

A Monroe County commissioner says he wants to defund the Monroe County Library if it doesn’t move LGBTQ+ themed books out of its children and young adult sections, and the issue prompted about 100 people to show up at the county’s commission meeting last week.

District 3 Commissioner John Ambrose told The Telegraph he is willing to defund the public library in early 2025 if the books aren’t moved by the time new county chairman-elect Alan Gibbs takes office, who supports the notion.

“I’m hoping they’ll move them, but if they don’t, I’m prepared to do what’s necessary, and I won’t change my mind,” Ambrose said over the phone. “All I’m asking is that they take any book that is not age appropriate, and get it out of the kids section.”

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Marisha Crowder, assistant branch manager at the Monroe County Library, said it’s heartbreaking that the library could potentially be closed in less than five months.

“I think as a public library, it is necessary for us to carry these books. Libraries serve the community that includes many demographics,” Crowder said in an email. “It is important that all members of society, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community, be able to come to the library and find a book that relates to them emotionally, mentally, physically, etc.”

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Filed under: Libraries, News, Public Libraries