Rutherford County, Tenn., Library Director Luanne James Fired After Refusing Board Order to Move 132 LGBTQ Children’s Books to Adult Section
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Rutherford County, Tenn., Library Director Luanne James was fired after refusing a board order to move roughly 132 LGBTQ‑themed children’s books from the children’s section to the adult section following an "age‑appropriateness" review. James said the directive would constitute unlawful, government‑mandated viewpoint discrimination and violate the First Amendment, while board chair Cody York defended the move as protecting children from what he called "gender confusion"; the dispute echoes broader national conflicts over LGBTQ materials in public libraries.