Public library removes children's Pride display after local official sounds alarm on 'sexual grooming'

A Pennsylvania public library removed a Pride Month display from its children's section after local officials requested it be taken down, prompting criticism from some community members and reigniting debate over who should influence library programming.

"On Friday, I received word from the library that the municipal manager had directed our library director to take down the display in the children's room," Kelly Meredith, president of the Monroeville Public Library Board of Directors, said in a statement, local ABC affiliate WTAE reported Monday.

The outlet reported that the Pride display had been up since June 1 and was removed last week despite opposition from Meredith.

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In a June 19 Facebook post resharing the library's photo of the Pride display, Monroeville Councilmember Bill Krut wrote, "Should these books be available for children at the Monroeville Library? I think not… I don’t care what adults do. This is child, sexual grooming."

Some of the books featured in the Pride display shown in the photo shared by Krut included "The GayBC’s," "A Kid’s Book About Gay Parents," "Pride Puppy!," "Rainbow: A First Book of Pride," "My Two Moms," and "Sparkle Boy."

Lindsay White, a pastor at Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Monroeville and a parent, called Krut’s comments "incredibly offensive."

"We utilize the library every week, and the Pride display is an incredible resource in helping my children learn about the reality of the world that we live in. And we are very supportive of the LGBTQ community," White said during a library board meeting.

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In a statement posted on Facebook Monday, Monroeville Mayor Dennis Biondo Jr., said, "As Mayor, I represent all residents of the Municipality of Monroeville, and I affirm our community’s values of safety, dignity and respect for all residents, including the LGBTQIA+ community. The Monroeville Public Library has served this municipality and surrounding communities for over 60 years, and we are blessed to have such a trusted public institution and its employees, locally accessible for information, community gathering, and literacy."

He added, "Libraries must remain safe, welcoming spaces free from intimidation or censorship, so that all patrons have access to the books and resources that they need or want. I will continue to support the library, the Library Board, and the library’s employees to use their expert discretion in creating displays and activities that represent this community."

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WTAE reported that Monroeville Municipal Manager Alex Graziani said the display could be removed due to the upcoming July 4 holiday.

"I advised that the June Pride Month display in the children’s section of the Monroeville Public Library could be removed and replaced with a patriotic America 250 display in advance of the Independence Day holiday and our community celebration," Graziani said.

Meanwhile, Meredith said that library staff, not public officials, make decisions regarding displays, WTAE reported.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Meredith said, "On Friday, June 26, I was notified of a directive from the municipal manager to the library director to remove the 'Love is Love' display in the children's room. This was following pressure from some members of council, who wanted the display removed. While we do not want to set a precedent that allows council or the municipality to dictate library displays, we ultimately decided to take the display down early to ensure a safe and comfortable working environment for the library staff."

Meredith added, "Library displays fall under the library's board-approved collection development policy. The display met all criteria and standards set forth in this policy. The Board of Directors is grateful for all the support the library has received from community members and patrons throughout this."