Ban lifted on book displays celebrating Black history, Pride Month in SW Louisiana city

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — Book displays highlighting black history or the accomplishments of those in the LGBTQ+ community at libraries in a Southwest Louisiana city have returned after being prohibited in 2022.

“I believe it is important that our community be represented in our library,” Interim Library Director Sarah Monroe told The Advocate Tuesday of her decision to allow the displays. “No matter who you are, you should be able to walk in and see yourself represented in the programs, services and collections, including the displays.”

Monroe was appointed interim director in August after the Lafayette Parish Library Board fired Danny Gillane who implemented the ban for Pride Month, Women’s History and Black History, to avoid drawing attention to books that some might target for removal from the libraries.

Initially, the board had been asked to ban or relocate two books and a documentary film that it received complaints about, including “This Book is Gay,” which discusses growing up LGBTQ+. The library board did not vote on prohibiting the displays and Gillane’s action drew national attentio n.

Today, a Black History Month display of nonfiction books including “Brothers in Valor: Battlefield Stories of the 89 African Americans Awarded the Medal of Honor,” “Black Legislators in Louisiana,” and “Black TV” can be seen on the third floor of the main library in downtown Lafayette. Another display has been erected at the East Regional Library in the Youngsville area to celebrate

There is no restriction against displays for Pride Month, which is typically held in June, Monroe said.

City Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux called the policy change good news.

“I believe that public facilities and public entities are designed to be accessible and available to each and all residents,” Boudreaux said, “in particular when it comes to Black history, which is something very dear to me,” as are the histories of others in the community.

Lynette Mejia, co-founder of Lafayette Citizens Against Censorship, applauded the action.

“We are very happy that displays are returning to our library,” she said, “not only because they allow marginalized communities to be seen and celebrated, but because they give people outside those communities the opportunity to discover and learn about cultures and experiences other than their own.”

Democratic state Sen. Gerald Boudreaux, of Lafayette, commended Monroe for “displaying leadership” in reversing the book display prohibitions.

“The topic of banning books and burying history has been flamed by many inside and outside the library walls around the country,” Boudreaux said. “With parental supervision we can and we should monitor and regulate safe spaces in our libraries without violating any freedoms guaranteed by our constitution.”

A director search committee met for the first time in January to seek a permanent replacement.