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Residents clash in public comment over Pride Month displays at Henrico libraries
Summary
At the board'9s June 24 meeting two residents used public comment to offer opposing views on Pride Month displays in Henrico County libraries: one called the displays "very disturbing" and provided a packet of book covers to the clerk; another thanked the county for supporting the queer community'9s access to resources.
During the public comment period at the Henrico County Board of Supervisors'9 June 24 meeting, two residents offered sharply different perspectives on Pride Month displays and related programming at county libraries.
Don Blake, who identified himself as a Brooklyn District resident and said he is a Christian pastor, told the board he had visited four county libraries and found displays recommending Pride‑themed books in multiple locations.
"It'9s very disturbing to see as you walk into the library, they're displayed recommending books that people for a whole month," Blake said, and told the board he would provide members a packet of the displayed book covers and materials. He described titles and materials he found in adult and children'9s sections, including a "LGBTQIA dictionary" and other youth‑oriented items, and asked the supervisors to determine who authorizes such displays.
A second speaker, Britney Rose of Glen Allen, said she supported the displays. "I'9m so proud to live in a county that recognizes and celebrates all of its members," Rose said. "I am proud that my tax dollars go towards paying for books and resources that are important to our queer community."
Board chair Daniel J. Schmidt thanked both speakers; the clerk accepted the packet Blake brought to the dais. The speakers'9 comments were recorded during the public comment portion of the meeting; no board action on library displays or programming was proposed or adopted during the session.
Why it matters
Public libraries typically set displays and programming through library staff policies and programming calendars; residents questioned whether the displays reflected staff initiative, library board direction or other authorization. The comments indicate divergent community views and suggest residents on both sides expect the board to be aware of—if not to take action on—how public‑funded library resources are curated.
Ending
The board did not take action on library displays at the June 24 meeting. Clerks accepted the materials a resident brought and staff will retain them in the meeting record; any formal request for policy review would need to come back to the board as a separate agenda item or via the library governance process.
