Terri Lesley, a former librarian from Wyoming, unexpectedly found herself at the center of a controversial discussion on free speech and book censorship in libraries across the United States and Canada. Following her dismissal as the library system director in Campbell County, Wyoming, over a dispute regarding books with 2SLGBTQ+ themes, Lesley has reached a settlement of $700,000 US ($976,710 Cdn) in a lawsuit related to her termination.
Expressing relief over the outcome, Lesley stated that she believes the settlement will help her community move forward. She hopes that individuals advocating against library materials and the First Amendment will take heed of the settlement as a deterrent.
Lesley’s lawsuit contends that her termination after nearly two decades was a result of her refusal to remove or limit books featuring 2SLGBTQ+ themes and sexual content from the library shelves in Gillette, Wyoming. However, the county refuted Lesley’s claims, stating that her dismissal was due to performance issues rather than the book dispute.
Despite the settlement, which the county emphasized is not an admission of wrongdoing, Lesley will drop her lawsuit while continuing a separate legal case against three individuals who opposed the books. The controversy arose after a Pride month post in 2021 led to a surge in complaints and book challenges, subsequently escalating the situation.
The challenged titles, such as “This Book is Gay” and “How Do You Make a Baby,” faced objections primarily due to their sexual content and 2SLBTQ+ themes, especially as they were targeted at teenage readers. Lesley highlighted the underlying anti-LGBTQ sentiment in the objections raised by community members, leading to a shift of the controversial books to the adult section of the library.
Lesley’s case reflects a broader trend of increasing book challenges in libraries, with the American Library Association reporting a significant rise in censorship demands, particularly linked to LGBTQIA+ content. The legal firm representing Lesley has been involved in similar cases across the U.S., illustrating a growing battle over book censorship in libraries nationwide.
Lesley’s steadfast defense of access to diverse literature and freedom of expression underscores the ongoing struggle to uphold these principles in the face of censorship pressures. Her settlement serves as a reminder of the enduring significance of the First Amendment and the imperative for public entities to uphold constitutional obligations in safeguarding free speech rights.
