Starting in 2023, Salado Public Library (SPL) staff began decorating the library with rainbows during the month of June. As most people recognize, the rainbow has become the de facto symbol of the LGBTQ movement and of Pride Month, which occurs every June.
The following year, SPL placed a display at the entrance to the Young Adults section. While no signage explicitly used the words Pride Month, the theme and intent were unmistakable.
In June 2025, the same pattern repeated: another Pride-themed display, again positioned at the entrance to the Young Adults section.
Below is an email exchange between a local resident and SPL Director Jeanie Lively regarding these displays. The correspondence highlights growing concern among parents and community members that SPL is promoting sexually themed and age-inappropriate messages to minors under the banner of inclusivity.
June 5, 2025
Ms. Lively,
I’m writing in regard to the Pride Month display at the library, which is next to the entrance to the young adults section. Attached is an image of the display.
I’m calling it a Pride Month display for the following reasons:
- June is internationally recognized as Pride Month.1
- To my knowledge, the display was first put up on June 2nd, the first day of June the library was open.
- A similar display was put up last year in the same location during the month of June (see below).
- The display contains numerous rainbows, a well-known symbol of LGBTQ pride.2
- The display contains a number of slogans which, given their proximity to rainbows and other similar slogans, can be reasonably construed as promoting full acceptance and unqualified approval of LGBTQ identities and expressions. These would be banal and effectively meaningless statements unless there were a particular intent behind them.
- The display is above a bookcase containing several books with queer storylines.
Given the above, it’s reasonable to assume the display is meant to celebrate Pride Month.
I have several questions related to the display.
1. How does the display comply with the library’s General Policies,3 specifically, section V. Library Public Display Areas, which states:
The library public display areas may be used for library-related, non-profit, or local community organization materials only.
2. How does the display comply with the library’s Collection Development Policy,4 specifically, the second paragraph under Responsibility, which states:
They [the library director and staff] neither promote nor discourage particular viewpoints or opinions.
While the policy primarily addresses the selection and curation of materials, its consistent emphasis on viewpoint neutrality5 suggests that the same standard likely extends to the library’s public messaging, including displays.
3. You and I met in your office on May 14th, with [another library staff person] present. At that time I asked you whether you had any knowledge of plans by library staff to put up a Pride Month display in June. You answered in the negative. Was that a true and accurate statement?
* * *
I am CC’ing Ms. Nancy Mills Mackey. As President of the library board, Ms. Mills Mackey is responsible to ensure that the library director is complying with all policies adopted by the board, pursuant to Tex. Loc. Govt. Code § 326.050,6 which states:
Sec. 326.050. LIBRARY DIRECTOR. The board may employ a library director to administer the affairs of the district under policies established by the board. … [emphasis mine]
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Stephen Sequeira
——————–
Footnotes:
1 “About Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month,” Library of Congress.
2 “How Did the Rainbow Flag Become a Symbol of LGBTQ Pride?,” Britannica.
3 Salado Public Library District Policies
4 Salado Public Library Collection Development Policy
5 For example: “This policy also supports the SPL District’s vision, mission and goals that ‘encourage a love of reading and provide lifelong learning opportunities.'”; “Responsibility for collection development lies with the library director and staff as they follow the library district’s values, which include ‘welcoming all’ and ‘providing materials, programs and technology that are current, relevant and broad enough for discovery.'”; “They [the library director and staff] strive to make the collection reflective of a variety of life experiences and the differing perspectives found in this growing district serving multiple ages, ethnicities, races, genders, religious preferences, reading interests, and other aspects.”; “… the library is obligated to provide a balanced collection with access to differing perspectives and ideas.”; “The library’s collection reflects their [district residents’] diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and interests.”
6 Tex. Loc. Govt. Code § 326.050
June 19, 2025
Mr. Sequeira,
I am responding to address your questions regarding the current Young Adult display.
Policy Compliance
The theme of the June display is “Libraries are for Everyone.” The display complies with our General Policies as it is library-related and encourages a love of reading. Our library’s mission is to “reflect a variety of life experiences and the differing perspectives found in this growing district serving multiple ages, ethnicities, races, genders, religious preferences, reading interests, and other aspects.”
The display also complies with our Collection Development Policy by neither discouraging nor promoting any particular viewpoint or opinion. The current rotating display features 14 to 18 books covering diverse themes, including:
- Stories of teenagers from different decades
- World War II experiences
- Taiwanese refugees
- Indigenous peoples
- Family relationships and secrets
- Teen life and relationships, both heterosexual and LGTBQ
- Thriller and horror genres
- People of color experiences
- Teen challenges and mental health
- Dealing with serious illness
Only three of the currently displayed books feature fictional LGBTQ characters. As books rotate through this display, additional themes and populations will be represented.
We understand that people may interpret displays in different ways. To clarify: this particular display was designed to reflect the idea that libraries are for everyone, and while it may be perceived as connected to Pride Month, it is not intended to promote any specific agenda.
We understand that not everyone may agree with every display or program. However, libraries are spaces for learning, exploration, and inclusion – not endorsement of any single viewpoint. Our goal is to create an environment where all community members can find materials and messages that are relevant to them. We ask that all community members respect the rights of others to find materials that reflect their own lives and experiences.
Clarification on Previous Discussion
During our May 14 meeting, I stated that I was unaware of what the Young Adult section display would feature for June. Your assertion that I was dishonest about this not being a “Pride display” is incorrect and unfounded. This display focuses on the life experiences of teenage characters from diverse backgrounds and belief systems, emphasizing themes of acceptance, kindness, and mental health.
As I mentioned in our previous meeting, my responsibility is to represent the entire Salado community. I take this responsibility very seriously. Again Libraries are for Everyone is a principle I believe in as Director of Salado Public Library and will continue to uphold.
If you have additional questions regarding library policy, please refer to our published policies or contact the library board.
Jeanie Lively
July 14, 2025
Ms. Lively,
Thank you for your response.
You wrote that the display “was designed to reflect the idea that libraries are for everyone” and that “while it may be perceived as connected to Pride Month, it is not intended to promote any specific agenda.” However, the timing, symbolism, and slogans used strongly suggest otherwise. As I outlined in my previous message, these elements align closely with common Pride Month themes and imagery.
While the display may not explicitly reference Pride Month, it sends a clear message through widely recognized symbols and phrases. For most observers—especially those familiar with current cultural discussions around sexuality and gender—the display would reasonably be interpreted as a celebration of Pride Month.
Consider this analogy: If the library created a display around Easter weekend featuring crosses, an empty tomb, and phrases like “He is risen,” few would doubt its intended message—even if the word “Easter” never appeared. Context and symbolism matter.
My concern is that, regardless of intent, the library appears to be promoting a specific set of beliefs tied to Pride Month—namely, unconditional affirmation of LGBTQ identities and associated ideologies. That may seem unobjectionable to some, but it’s not neutral. These topics touch on deeply held values, including moral, religious, and philosophical convictions, and for many parents, they are not appropriate subjects for promotional messaging aimed at minors.
This raises serious questions about compliance with the library’s stated policies, especially those emphasizing viewpoint neutrality and the library’s commitment not to assume parenting duties. Promoting material or displays that address sexual identity—however indirectly—can be interpreted as stepping into that role.
Given the library’s history of using similar displays and symbols during June, it’s reasonable to view this year’s display as a continuation of that pattern—one that clearly aligns with Pride Month.
For example, in 2023, when I asked whether the rainbow decorations at the circulation desk were in recognition of Pride Month, you acknowledged that it was among the things being celebrated. Later in the same conversation, after I expressed concern, the reference to Pride Month was omitted.
This progression—from explicit acknowledgment to subtle avoidance—suggests an effort to maintain plausible deniability while continuing to mark the occasion in practice. When viewed in context, this pattern strengthens the case that the current display is not neutral or incidental, but part of a recurring approach to Pride Month messaging.
As a taxpayer and resident, I care that the library upholds its policies—not selectively, but across all programs and displays. More importantly, many parents are deeply uncomfortable with what they see as the promotion of contested views on gender and sexuality to children and teens in a public institution.
These views—such as the idea that gender is fluid, or that sex is merely about pleasure and consent—are foundational to Pride Month but are not universally accepted. Presenting them without context or alternative perspectives risks undermining the neutrality that your policies require.
I appreciate your commitment to inclusion and your service to the community. That said, when the line between inclusion and advocacy is blurred—especially on sensitive topics involving minors—parents are right to speak up. Many in our community feel that this line has been crossed.
I understand that policy decisions ultimately rest with the board. I’m sharing this perspective with you not only as a follow-up, but to clarify why these issues matter to so many families in our town.
Sincerely,
Stephen Sequeira
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