Mississippi mayor withholds library funds from LGBTQ books

RIDGELAND, Mississippi (AP) — The director of a Mississippi library system claims a mayor is withholding $110,000 from his city’s library because LGBTQ books are on the shelves.

Tonja Johnson, executive director of the Madison County Library System, told media that Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee received complaints from citizens about a handful of books depicting members of the LGBTQ community.

“Funding for this year was withheld until we removed what he called ‘gay material’ from the library,” Johnson said. WAPT-TV. “The reasoning he gave was that as a Christian he couldn’t support this and wouldn’t release funding until we removed the material.”

The move is part of a broader trend of conservatives across the country trying to limit the type of books children are exposed to. A Pulitzer Prize-winning Holocaust book was recently banned by a school district in Tennessee, while Republican governors in South Carolina and Texas have called on superintendents to conduct a systemic review of “inappropriate” material in schools in their state.

In a statement to news outlets, McGee did not expressly confirm that it does not provide the funding for LGBTQ literature, but said it believed some of the books were “inappropriate for children”.

“There are minimal, sexual overtones not appropriate for children when they walk into the library,” said McGee, a Republican who has served as suburban Jackson mayor since 1989.

The Ridgeland Board of Aldermen approved the city’s budget in the fall, and Alderman Ken Heard told WAPT the mayor does not have the authority to unilaterally withhold funds from the library.

Johnson said the library board will request a public hearing before the board of aldermen to seek clarification and receive the funds, according to the broadcaster.

A meeting was held at the Ridgeland Library on Tuesday evening to discuss the ultimatum. Jason McCarty, executive director of LGBTQ advocacy group MS Capital City Pride, was in attendance and said he believes libraries should be safe spaces where people can learn new things.

“I think when we start putting our personal opinions into situations, that’s when we can go wrong,” McCarty said. WLBT-TV.