Sumner County library board hears heated public opposition to proposed policy restricting transgender content

The Sumner County Library Trustee Board heard more than a dozen public comments July 9 about a proposed change to the county's collection and development policy that would restrict materials mentioning transgender identity.

Supporters of the library's existing collections and multiple patrons warned the board that the draft language amounts to a viewpoint restriction and could expose the county to litigation. "The policy is merely to comply with law; however, that is both factually inaccurate and intellectually dishonest," said Jill Cornelius, a Hendersonville resident. "When you said last week that this board has the authority to remove books, understand that that authority is not unlimited, and acting as such can be costly."

The proposed draft, as described during the meeting, would remove or limit materials that the board determines "promote" or "condone" living as a gender different than that assigned on a birth certificate. Several speakers said the language is vague and would be difficult for…