LAFAYETTE, La. – Lafayette Public Library officials today agreed to lift a ban on patrons organizing Drag Queen Story Time events in response to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Louisiana challenging the library’s policy. The library also agreed to stop asking patrons to fill out forms disavowing Drag Queen Story Time as a condition of using library space.
“The library's unjust and discriminatory ban targeted LGBTQ Louisianans and violated our clients’ First Amendment rights,” said Katie Schwartzmann, ACLU of Louisiana legal director. “This is welcome news for our clients and everyone in Lafayette who will once again be able to use library facilities without being unfairly interrogated or censored by library officials.”
"Over the past few months, we’ve seen the LGBTQ community in Lafayette come together to speak out against this discriminatory mandate and rally behind the values we share,” said Alanah Odoms Hebert, ACLU of Louisiana executive director.
The judge denied the ACLU of Louisiana’s motion to intervene in the case without prejudice, which means that the organization reserves the right to file subsequent litigation if necessary.
