Durham Libraries Backpedal on Pride Display Directive

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This week, all Durham County Library staff got a directive calling for the removal of Pride Month displays and censorship of LGBTQ+ materials, according to Vice Chair Nida Allam of the Durham County Board of Commissioners.

On Friday, the library leadership appeared to reverse itself.

The board "has not adopted this policy and does not support it, nor was this directive authorized by the county manager or attorney," Allam wrote in a Reddit post. She indicated in the post that the directive had come from Dana Conners, who has been director of the Durham County Library system since January.

"To any neighbor, library patron, or county employee affected by this: I see you, and I will stand by you this month and all year round," Allam wrote. "The library is a safe space for every person in our county, a portal to new worlds and ideas. We will not tolerate attempts to silence queer voices in our library system or anywhere across the county."

Chair Mike Lee concurred: "Our libraries are an open door where every person belongs and every story has a shelf. That door stays open, and your voices belong here."

Commissioner Wendy Jacobs posted on Facebook that the unauthorized policy does not "represent my deeply-held personal values."

"Durham County Government must work to repair this harm and ensure our libraries remain places that celebrate, reflect, and value the lives of everyone in our community," she said.

On Friday afternoon, a post on the Durham County Library Facebook page indicated that displays installed for Pride Month will be maintained.

Conners had not responded to an email request for comment as of this writing.

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