Staff Reports
In order to settle a lawsuit brought by Moms for Liberty and other organizations, Yolo County, California, agreed to strengthen its free-speech standards and pay $70,000. The complaint was brought when a librarian closed down a women's sports forum for allegedly "misgendering" transgender players. As part of the settlement, the library policy will be modified to prevent staff members from interfering with presentations in meeting rooms that have been reserved because of the opinions being expressed.
California county to pay damages after library shutters Moms for Liberty event for ‘misgendering’https://t.co/8TdYN6wjnz pic.twitter.com/zW8EId7WKM
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) May 16, 2024
Any disruptive behavior during events will be handled by library staff, per their instructions. In addition, the county has committed to paying $70,000 in legal fees and damages. The settlement was praised as a "clear victory for free speech and the First Amendment" by the Institute for Free Speech, which was the plaintiffs' legal representative.Moms for Liberty's chair in Yolo County, Beth Bourne, hailed the settlement as a victory for free expression. The complaint was brought when a librarian at the Davis branch library of Mary L. Stephens broke up their "Forum on Fair and Safe Sports for Girls" in August of last year. After a speaker called male-to-female transgender athletes "men" and "biological men" and threatened to cancel the event, the librarian went up to her.
Last month, the groups made their way back to the library and conducted the forum without any problems. ADF senior counsel and director of the ADF Center for Academic Freedom Tyson Langhofer stressed how crucial it is that public servants protect the right to free speech irrespective of their own opinions. The Washington Times contacted Yolo County for comment.
