ACLU sues Louisiana library over Drag Queen Story Hour ban

[TexasTowelie]

The ACLU of Louisiana filed suit Friday against a public library to end its ban on any program in which men in drag read to children.

Reserving a meeting room requires people to sign a form saying they won’t use the library for such purposes, Amber “Aimee” Robinson of Lafayette and Matthew Humphrey of Youngsville, who want to organize such an event at the Lafayette Public Library, say in the lawsuit.

“Lafayette library officials have imposed a gag order on their patrons,” said Katie Schwartzmann, legal director for ACLU of Louisiana.

The suit was filed in federal district court in Lafayette, about 120 miles (190 kilometers) west of New Orleans.

Read more: https://apnews.com/064bd8aac4fc4cd59668b8ce60973f09

[IphengeniaBlumgarten]

1. The Library is not the real villain in this story...

The Library was initially welcoming to this proposed program, but they have been harassed and maligned by a reactionary group called Warriors for Christ and are currently being sued by them. Not sure I see the point of the ACLU suing them, too, unless that will checkmate the Warriors' suit.

Not really involved, may not understand the legal ins and outs, but this is a pretty good library. I'm on their side.

[marble falls]

2. Thanks for that info, changes the story alot. WfC, isn't that the Duck Dynasty guys org?

[IphengeniaBlumgarten]

3. More to the story today --

While the Warriors' suit was still pending, the Library was trying to avoid using any resources to support the Drag Queen Story Hour; this had included restrictions on reservation of the meeting rooms at the Library. The ACLU suit has now been settled by removing restrictions on meeting room use. So the Story Hour can proceed, just not under official sponsorship of the Library. I imagine the Library is quite comfortable with this decision, as they had originally supported the Story Hour.