NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee library board has fired the county’s top librarian after the library refused to comply with a vote to move more than 100 LGBTQ books from the children’s section to the adult section, claiming the books promoted “gender confusion.”
The Rutherford County Library Board of Trustees voted 8-3 Monday night to fire library system director Luanne James. James has previously said relocating the books would violate her and county residents’ First Amendment rights and undermine her professional obligations to fight government-mandated viewpoint discrimination.
The case makes the county southeast of Nashville another focal point in a national battle over library content that often centers on race and LGBTQ topics.
“Her story will resonate across the country from the courthouse in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as a symbol of resistance to censorship and repression,” said Kathy Meehan, director of PEN America’s Free to Read Project, which advocates for free speech on behalf of writers.
Last fall, a former Wyoming library director won a $700,000 settlement in a lawsuit after he was fired. Terri Lesley was removed from shelves after sparking an uproar over books with sexual content and LGBTQ themes that had some calling for them to be pulled from teen bookshelves, though Campbell County officials claimed it was only her performance that led to her firing.
Separately, in December, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal in a Texas free speech case that allowed local officials to remove books deemed objectionable from public libraries.
Tennessee’s decision stems from the board’s March 16 vote to relocate the books to the adult section of the county library. At that meeting, board president Cody York said telling children, especially those going through puberty, that boys can be girls and girls can be boys is dangerous and inaccurate.
Two days later, James emailed the board saying she would not move the books. Monday’s meeting was filled with cheers and boos from the audience. When it was James’ turn to speak, she said, “I stand by my decision and I will not change my mind.” After the board voted to fire her, James’ attorney read a statement from her in which she said she believed the firing was an unlawful act of viewpoint discrimination.
“Librarians should not be used as a filter for political agendas,” the statement said. “I defend the right to read on behalf of the citizens of Rutherford County.”
Meanwhile, Rutherford County School Board member Caleb Tidwell expressed support for moving the books out of the teen section.
“Abide by the law,” said Tidwell, who began his public comments with a prayer. “Protect the children. Stand your ground.”
Last year, the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office sent letters to library systems across the state asking for an immediate review of the content of children’s areas. They said libraries that receive federal and state funding must comply with applicable laws, citing Trump’s executive order on gender ideology.
James was appointed county library director in July 2025. She has worked in public libraries for more than 25 years, including as director in Texas and South Carolina.
