Pride displays may have upset parents, says leader

The leader of Essex County Council said some library displays that celebrated Pride month contained "inappropriate" books and may have been upsetting to parents.

Peter Harris said "there are concerns about certain elements" of these displays, but when questioned by the BBC, did not specify what they were.

Library staff were told by the Reform UK administration in June, at the beginning of Pride Month, not to promote any events unrelated to their day-to-day activities, but many went ahead with their dedicated Pride displays.

Liberal Democrat councillor David King described the administration's reaction to the displays as "chilling".

The council recently appeared to backtrack, telling the BBC that promotions in libraries could continue.

Libraries that continued to host Pride displays included branches in Chelmsford, Writtle and Harlow.

Harris said its policy for libraries remained under review.

"Our libraries should represent and display things for all residents and not just for something that might be deemed as ideological and something that is potentially upsetting for parents of children," Harris said.

"Some of the items that I saw, I felt were inappropriate."

• Reform takes control of Essex County Council, ending 25 years of Conservative power, on 8 May
• Leading cabinet member Chris Hossack tells BBC Essex that the authority's 74 libraries would not be holding promotions for events
• The move is branded "politically motivated" by a drag artist and "Orwellian" by a Tory councillor
• The council appears to backtrack on its stance weeks later, saying "there is no ban on events at libraries for Pride", and that it had only paused "social media promotion of some themed days, weeks and months"

Pride Month is a celebration of equality and acceptance, and a chance for campaigners to raise awareness of issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community.

A protest against what has been described as a "diversity ban" is due to be held outside County Hall ahead of the next full council meeting on Tuesday.

It has been organised by Save Our Libraries Essex. Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors are expected to join the demonstration.

King said: "The manner of the new administration's decision and how it has been read, and their reaction to Pride material is chilling - for all of those for whom Pride is important to their sense of belonging and inclusion in our society."

Opposition leader Lee Scott said no complaints had ever been made about what was promoted in libraries when his Conservative group ran the council.

But Harris said: "I've seen countless emails and countless calls from residents that are backing this decision that we've made."

He said the instructions for libraries "need to be clarified" and that "whatever displays that are put on should be age appropriate".

Libraries could continue to promote International Women's Day, Black History Month and Windrush Day, Harris added.

Libraries are set to be raised at the full council meeting on Tuesday and petitions with thousands of signatures are set to be handed in by councillors.

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