Greenville County Council to consider moving LGBTQ children's books in libraries

Tim Carlin, Greenville News
·1 min read
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Daneen Schatzle of Greenville, middle, Amy Pecht, right, and Mary Frances Schelato, left, wait to attend the Greenville County Council Citizen Comment Session in Greenville, SC Thursday, September 22, 2022. LGBTQ advocates spoke out against a rumored upcoming LGBTQ children's book ban.
Daneen Schatzle of Greenville, middle, Amy Pecht, right, and Mary Frances Schelato, left, wait to attend the Greenville County Council Citizen Comment Session in Greenville, SC Thursday, September 22, 2022. LGBTQ advocates spoke out against a rumored upcoming LGBTQ children's book ban.

Greenville County Council will consider a resolution at its Nov. 1 meeting to remove any materials "promoting sexuality" from the children's section of all county libraries, according to County Council's latest agenda.

The resolution is not an LGBTQ+ book ban in name, but it would move children's books with LGBTQ+ themes from the children's sections of all county libraries into the adult sections.

The resolution, introduced by Councilmember Joe Dill, is the culmination of months of controversy surrounding LGBTQ+ materials at county libraries. It would require only one reading and one vote to pass.

Earlier this month, LGBTQ+ residents and allies filled County Council chambers to express their support of children's books with LGBTQ+ themes.

This outpouring of support was the result of the Greenville County Republican Party urging the council in September to take action against LGBTQ+ children's books, asking they be moved to the adult section of the library.

Previous Reporting:Some want LGBTQ themes hidden from children in Greenville, but advocates speak out

The controversy began in June when LGBTQ+ Pride Month displays were removed from the Anderson Road county library branch, sparking outcry from some residents. The displays were later replaced, but the debate over LGBTQ+ materials continued.

At its latest meeting, the Greenville County Library Board of Trustees further debated LGBTQ+ materials, ultimately prompting its Operations Committee to draft a policy that will guide the library system toward "neutrality" on controversial themes, including LGBTQ+ materials. No new policy had been announced by the board by the time County Council's Nov. 1 agenda was posted Oct. 28.

Check back for more on this developing story.

−Tim Carlin covers county government, growth and development for The Greenville News. Follow him on Twitter @timcarlin_, and get in touch with him at TCarlin@gannett.com. You can support his work by subscribing to The Greenville News at greenvillenews.com/subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville County SC to consider moving LGBTQ children's books