$100K+ for ‘Queer Bible’ exhibit raised
Activists have raised more than $100,000 following a controversy over an exhibit promoting “The Queer Bible,” among other sexually-explicit books at the Ridgeland Library.
The online fundraiser for the library has raised the monies in just two weeks, thanks to an activist community known as “furries.”
The website LGBTQ Nation says: “While the furries are mostly known for dressing up in full-body costumes of furry animals, they’re also known for being pro-LGBTQ and opposing hate and bigotry in their communities.”
The issue stems from a dispute between the library and the city that started last month when Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee said he had received between 15 and 20 complaints of objecting to books that received prominent placement in book displays in the library making a political statement.
One of the books in the displays that has drawn criticism is a collection of essays edited by Jack Guinness called “The Queer Bible.”
Another is “As a Woman: What I Learned about Power, Sex, and the Patriarchy after I Transitioned” By Paula Stone Williams. The description on Amazon says that the book is a memoir of a transgender pastor’s transition from male to female.
Other titles include “Outlove: A Queer Christian Survival Story” by Julie Rodgers, “the Name I Call Myself” by Hasan Namir and “People of Pride: 25 Great LGBTQ Americans” by Chase Clemesha.
“We understand that there are lots of books on the library shelves that may have content we may be opposed to but the display of those books makes a political statement,” McGee said.
McGee said that he then discovered that the contract between the library system and the city was not valid as it was approved in 2009 and the city has had three city elections since then.
Contracts approved by the city board may be revisited by subsequent boards as they see fit.
McGee said that the city is holding their budgeted payment of $110,000 to the library until a new agreement is reached and approved by the city and library boards as well as the county Board of Supervisors.
McGee said that the funds do not have a due date and that to his knowledge the city’s contribution has never been paid in one lump sum.
McGee has said that he would like to have a contract ready for approval by the city board at their next regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 15 but noted Wednesday that he was not sure when a new agreement would be ready for approval.
“The lawyers are working on it,” McGee said. “But not sure when they will have something to us.”
In addition to their yearly contribution to the library system, the city also owns the building the library is housed in and maintains the property as well as contributing a large amount of ad valorem tax money to the county coffers.
As of Wednesday morning, the fundraiser at fund libraries.org has raised $102,354 in 13 days from 2,320 backers just five days before the fundraiser is set to end on Monday, Feb. 14.
The fundraiser benefits the Friends of the Ridgeland Library, an organization that raises funds for the library.
The fundraiser's goal is stated as $110,000.
Library representatives have accused the mayor of improperly withholding funds from the library. A statement on the MCLS website labeled “Statement on Freedom of Information” was posted on Jan. 26.
The statement ends with a quote attributed to MCLS Board of Trustees President Jerry Valdez.
“We look forward to continuing our tradition of excellent library service in Madison County,” Valdez said.
Valdez is one of nine members off the MCLS board of trustees. Each member is appointed. Each supervisor gets and appointee. The cities of Canton, Flora, Ridgeland and Madison also appoint a member.
Valdez represents Flora. The city of Ridgeland’s appointee is Polly Hammett. The remaining board members are Wallace Collins of Madison, Sheila Jones appointee Penni Davis, Trey Baxter’s appointee is Arma Harper, Gerald Steen’s appointee is Connie Machado, David Bishop’s appointee is Shirley Washington and Paul Griffin’s appointee is Shirley Ann Sanders.
The city of Canton does not currently have an appointee on the board as of Jan. 11.
Madison County Library System Executive Director Tonja Johnson said that she hopes the issue is resolved swiftly.
“I do not have any updates to share at this time other than MCLS is looking to resolve the withholding of funds by the City of Ridgeland as quickly as possible,” Johnson said.
She directed further questions about the fundraiser to Friends of the Ridgeland Library who could not be reached for comment.
A post on the Friends of the Ridgeland Library social media page signed by president Teresa Gerald calls the city’s actions “coercive’ and censorious.
“If we allow the city’s coercive action against our library to happen, what will the mayor want to censor next - your religion? your race? your disability? your age? your right to vote?” She wrote. “Silence on this issue implies that you want the Ridgeland Library to be censored or to cease to exist. If that’s not what you want and you live in Ridgeland, please let your elected officials know that you do not want censorship and that the money must be paid.”
Other outlets have reported that an online community of Furries have boosted the fundraiser. Furries are people who identify with anthropomorphic or cartoon animals like Bugs Bunny. They build a persona, known as a “fursona” in such communities, around this identity and sometimes go as far as to wear animal ears or full costumes to complete their “fursona.”
The Ridgeland Public Library of the MCLS is also known as the Elsie E. Jurgens Library and is located at 397 Highway 51.
Branch Manager of the Ridgeland Library Kristen Hillman referred to the statement made by the library board on the county library system’s website.
Hillman has said no formal complaints had been submitted about the books in question though some patrons had made verbal complaints to staff. She said that a form is available through the libraries to submit a formal complaint.
Hillman also said that the books in question were part of a display of new books in the library's collection. She said that their policy is to display new books for three months and then they are cycled into the regular collection of the library.