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Free Gay Publications Removed under Revived Lexington PolicyCiting a nine-year-old policy that forbids distributing free political materials “written from one point of view only,” Lexington (Ky.) Public Library has removed two gay publications from the front lobby of its central library. GLSO News, the monthly newsletter of the city’s Gay and Lesbian Services Organization, and The Letter, a Louisville-based regional gay-issues newspaper, were among materials recently cleared from the free-distribution tables. Other rejected items included handouts criticizing the water company and endorsements for political candidates, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported November 13.The newspaper said administrators have been revisiting their policies since June, when Kathleen Imhoff became executive director. Currently, announcements of educational organizations, general community interest, and cultural activities are permitted, but not religious or political posters or free materials that advocate a single perspective. “We obviously can’t take every single thing that anyone wants to give us on our free table,” Imhoff told the Herald-Leader. Managers at other library branches told the newspaper they will probably remove GLSO News to comply with the policy. GLSO members point out that GLSO News has been available at the library since 1991 and dispute the characterization of the newsletter as political. Editor Mary Crone called it a guide to community events that might interest local gays and lesbians. The newsletter occasionally offers a forum for opinions on current issues, said Crone, “but I don’t think it’s directly political.” GLSO President Thomas Collins said he was confused by the sudden enforcement of the policy. “That’s been in effect since 1994, and they just started enforcing it? Something is not adding up to me,” said Collins. Posted November 17, 2003. |
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