The Rutherford County Library Board in Tennessee fired library system Director Dr. Luanne James after she refused to relocate over 100 books from the children’s sections after critics accused them of pushing “gender confusion.”
The board previously decided on March 16 to relocate approximately 132 books from the children’s section of the library to the adult section after an “age-appropriateness review” last year. Days after the decision, James sent a message to the board saying that she would refuse to move the books out of solidarity with the First Amendment.
“I will not comply with the Board’s decision to relocate these books,” James wrote. “Doing so would violate the First Amendment right of all citizens of Rutherford County and myself. Consequently, I would compromise my professional obligation to oppose government-mandated viewpoint discrimination.”
In an 8-3 vote on Monday, the board voted to remove James from her position for her refusal amid a large group of protesters who came to support her.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Rutherford County Library Board for comment.
According to comments made by Rutherford County Library Board Chairman Cody York during a meeting earlier in March, there were concerns over LGBTQ and other social justice themes in the books and the desire to “protect children’s innocence.”
former Rutherford County Library System Director Luanne James speaking at a meeting of the Rutherford County Library Board in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on March 30, 2026. AP “I would argue that gender confusion [is] the idea of telling someone that boys aren’t really boys, they can be girls, and girls aren’t really girls, they can be boys, and that you should advocate for [or] encourage the dismembering of healthy sex organs,” York said. “I don’t think that that’s appropriate for children.”
York pushed the idea to remove James in a comment last week.
“When a director refuses to carry out a duly adopted Board decision, it undermines the governance of the institution and cannot be ignored,” York said.
Supporters of James’ deciscion to not remove the LGBTQ books from the children’s section cheering at the library board meeting. AP In a statement to the Nashville Scene, James described feeling “disappointed” at the decision.
“I lost it for doing exactly what librarians are supposed to do — protect the rights of all community members to access books and information. Public libraries are community forums serving the entire community, not just those who share the loudest voice or the most restrictive views. Librarians should not be used as a filter for political agendas. I stood up for the right to read, standing for the citizens of Rutherford County. I believe my firing is unlawful, an act of viewpoint discrimination,” the statement read.
Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
The decision to remove inappropriate books from children’s sections of libraries followed Tennessee passing the Dismantling DEI Departments Act last year. The law was in response to President Donald Trump’s “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” executive order shortly after his inauguration.
