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March 31, 2026
Tennessee librarian fired over LGBTQ book policy
- Luanne James was fired by the Rutherford County Library Board for refusing to move over 100 LGBTQ books from the children's section, citing First Amendment rights.
- The board voted 8-3 to terminate her, claiming the books promote 'gender confusion' among children, while James argued it was an act of viewpoint discrimination.
- This incident highlights the national conflict over library content, particularly regarding LGBTQ themes, as echoed by advocates for freedom of expression.
4 Sources
- Tennessee librarian fired for not moving kids LGBTQ books to adult sectionMar 31, 2026 at 7:19 PM · AP
- Librarian fired for refusing to move over 100 books from children's to adult sectionMar 31, 2026 at 7:26 PM · ABC News
- Tennessee librarian fired for refusing to move LGBTQ books from children's to adult sectionApr 1, 2026 at 2:02 PM · The Hill
- Tennessee Library Director Luanne James Fired Over L.G.B.T.Q. BooksApr 1, 2026 at 8:56 PM · NYT