Greenville library relocates all books with transgender themes to adult section

On Monday, the Greenville County Library Board of Trustees voted to move books with transgender themes or characters from the young adult section to the adult section. The revised policy presents significant changes to the library’s collection development and maintenance policy.

Details of the Moved Policy

Eight out of eleven board members supported the decision. This revision intends to move books that depict a character transitioning from “a gender that corresponds to their biological sex to a different sex” from the young adult section, optimal for ages 13-17, to the adult section. This includes books with illustrations or themes that “celebrate, portray or affirm gender transitioning whether the changes are social or physical.”

Allan Hill, chairman of the library board, mentioned that ensuring “truth in advertising” was one of the primary objectives of the revision. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a safe and secure environment for young readers.

Effects on Accessibility

The decision follows another similar one made earlier this year when the board decided to move children’s materials with transgender themes to the parenting section. However, with the recent revision, no books containing transgender characters or themes are accessible for young readers under 17 unless permission is granted through an all-access library card signed by parents or legal guardians.

Marcia Moston, chair of the library materials committee, mentioned that the policy revision proposal resonates with House Bill 4624. This Law, passed earlier this year, forbids anyone under the age of 18 from receiving gender reassignment surgery or any form of puberty blockers or hormone therapies.

Reactions to the Decision

While many agreed with the motion, others deemed it as discrimination. Board member Joe Poore argued that the policy, as currently written, is patently discriminatory, stating that the policy should focus on content, not the display of certain characters.

One board member, Brian Aufmuth, made an unsuccessful motion to consult a First Amendment lawyer, arguing that all users’ rights to free speech might be infringed upon. He suggested assessing whether the board had received all necessary legal advice before passing the measure. The motion, however, did not pass.

The Cultural War

The decision is not the first conflict between the library board and the public. The library faced criticism last October when it decided to remove all themed library displays not related to “paid holidays observed by both Greenville County Governments and the Greenville County Library Board.”

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) mentions that moving a book to a less accessible section could amount to soft censorship. Its official statement reads: “banning a book is not the only form of censorship, but can also be defined by moving a book to a ‘less accessible section’ or requiring parental permission to read it.”

Public reactions to the revision were diverse. Beth Wadsworth, a Greenville County resident, expressed her support for the board’s decision at Monday’s public comment.

On the other side, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom reported increased book challenges to record levels recently. The Freedom in Libraries Advocacy Group, represented by Stephen Shelato, expressed disappointment and surprise at the policy, calling it an act of transphobic paranoia.