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To: George Finch & Martin Murray — Leaders of Warwickshire & Staffordshire County Councils
Put the Pride Back in Our Libraries
We call on the Reform leaders of Staffordshire and Warwickshire County Councils to keep their politics out of our public spaces.
Leave librarians to decide how best to ensure these vital community services are inclusive and relevant for local people from all backgrounds.
Why is this important?
Over the last few months, Reform councillors in both Staffordshire and Warwickshire have attacked the visibility and representation of LGBTQ+ people in council libraries.
In Staffordshire, library staff have been told that “we will not be celebrating Pride in any form”. They have been instructed to remove displays, halt events and activities, and cease any Pride-related communications.
In Staffordshire, library staff have been told that “we will not be celebrating Pride in any form”. They have been instructed to remove displays, halt events and activities, and cease any Pride-related communications.
In Warwickshire, the Reform leader has said that county council libraries “have been promoting contested gender ideology”. He went on to say that issues had been raised with him, such as staff wearing rainbow lanyards and libraries having a book that “would give out the wrong messages” and potentially be “dangerous to young children”.
The Reform leadership has promised “a comprehensive policy” for libraries and other council-owned public spaces “to combat this trend”.
The Reform leadership has promised “a comprehensive policy” for libraries and other council-owned public spaces “to combat this trend”.
Inclusive libraries matter. Research found that 81% of LGBT+ respondents oppose restrictions on the promotion of Pride events in public libraries.*
It also found that nearly three-quarters (72%) believe withdrawing public funding from Pride events would negatively affect LGBT+ people, with reduced feelings of inclusion and belonging and increased concerns about discrimination among the most cited impacts.
It also found that nearly three-quarters (72%) believe withdrawing public funding from Pride events would negatively affect LGBT+ people, with reduced feelings of inclusion and belonging and increased concerns about discrimination among the most cited impacts.
We believe that libraries should be inclusive spaces that help to educate, inform and entertain people of every age, gender, sexuality, background and political belief. They are here to help open minds, not close them.
*LGBT+ results are based on a cross-break of respondents within the nationally representative UK sample and are not a standalone representative sample of LGBT+ adults
*LGBT+ results are based on a cross-break of respondents within the nationally representative UK sample and are not a standalone representative sample of LGBT+ adults