Former library director Luanne James is suing the Rutherford County Library System six months after she was fired for refusing to relocate LGBTQ-related books.
Luanne James filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court in Nashville. She’s claiming that Rutherford County’s library board wrongfully terminated her in March – violating discrimination laws and her First Amendment right to freedom of speech.
The board voted 8 – 3 to oust James after she refused an order to relocate more than 100 books from the children’s section to the adult’s section. Her firing garnered national attention in the debate over “appropriateness” in library content.
Individual members of the board are also listed as defendants in the complaint. James alleges that former board chair, Cody York, has a long history of bias against members of the LGBTQ community, and that he tried to get books with gay or transgender characters removed from the library before getting appointed to the board.
According to the complaint, once he joined the board in January 2023, York began flagging books that he determined promoted gender confusion. The targeted literature included phrases like, “nonbinary teens,” “diverse children in urban setting,” “diversity and inclusion,” and “gay rights movement.”
James said York also directed her to compile a list of people who checked out books with LGBTQ+ themes, including their names, addresses and household information. She refused the order. York denied any wrongdoing.
Hundreds packed the Rutherford County Courthouse this spring to voice their opinions on James’ actions as the board deliberated on her fate. Dozens chanted her name in support – telling board members that the removal of books is meant to erase LGBTQ people and make them feel unwelcome.
Others, however, wanted her out of a job with one speaker saying that First Amendment rights appeal to godlessness.
“I will not change my mind,” James said before the vote.
The ACLU of Tennessee publicly supported her – warning that this type of censorship would have ripple effects across the state.
This lawsuit is the latest incident in a long saga of book banning spurred — in part — by Tennessee’s Secretary of State Tre Hargett, who directed library leadership to review children’s books for “age-appropriateness'” last October. The order also called for compliance with President Donald Trump’s executive order about “defending women from gender ideology extremism.”
James is seeking economic damages, including backpay, front pay and lost benefits, along with compensation for emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience and mental anguish.
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