Joe.My.God. LGBT News
The Washington Post reports:
In June, two librarians put up two rainbow-colored displays near the entrance of the public library in Sterling, Kan. — their way of celebrating autism and neurodiversity, according to a recently filed lawsuit.
In one, the rainbow colors formed an infinity symbol broken up only by a heart and accompanied by the words “We all think differently.” The other was a rainbow scarf adorned with the silhouette of a child in a wheelchair reaching out to the words “In diversity is beauty and strength.”
The librarians say they were fired after a library board member complained the display promoted an “LGBTQ agenda.” On Tuesday, the two former librarians filed a lawsuit alleging that the Sterling Free Public Library’s eight-member board, the city of Sterling and its mayor violated their rights to free speech.
Wichita’s CBS affiliate reports:
The reason the library board gave for firing the pair is that the group lost confidence in Wheeler and Lancaster’s ability to do their jobs. 12 News obtained an audio recording of a June 22 library board meeting at which the group discussed issues about the display featuring the rainbow flag, in open session.
“I said I do not want any kind of rainbow display, especially this month, we are in Pride Month, people are on display. We are in a conservative town and do not need to make political statements like Target and Bud Light, we don’t want that,” library board vice president Michelle Miller said at that meeting.
Librarians say they were fired for rainbow autism symbols, accused of ‘LGBTQ agenda’ https://t.co/1C8G2QEcCE
— Larry Ferlazzo (@Larryferlazzo) September 14, 2023