Former Wyoming librarian Terri Lesley, who was fired for refusing to censor 2SLBTQ+ books, has reached a $700,000 US settlement in a lawsuit over her termination. Lesley, who served as the library system director in Campbell County, Wyo., for nearly 20 years, stood her ground against removing or restricting books with LGBTQ+ themes and sexual content from the library shelves.
Although Campbell County denied Lesley’s claims, stating that her termination was due to performance issues rather than the book dispute, a settlement was reached without any admission of guilt. Lesley expressed relief at the outcome, hoping it serves as a deterrent to those challenging library materials and the First Amendment.
The controversy ignited when the library’s public relations coordinator posted about the 2SLBTQ+ collection during Pride month in 2021, leading to a surge in complaints and book challenges. Lesley faced backlash for defending the inclusion of LGBTQ+ content in library materials, emphasizing the importance of diversity and access for the entire community.
Despite the challenges, Lesley received the John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award from the American Library Association in 2022 for her courage in defending freedom of expression. The ongoing battle over book censorship in libraries reflects a broader trend seen across the U.S. and Canada, with organized movements pushing for restrictions on diverse content.
Lesley’s case highlights the ongoing struggle to uphold the First Amendment and combat discrimination in public entities like libraries. Her lawyer, Iris Halpern, hopes that the settlement serves as a reminder of the constitutional obligations that govern such institutions. Lesley’s dedication to maintaining access to diverse literature underscores the ongoing debate about censorship and the right to intellectual freedom.