Michigan Town Raises $100,000 For Library Which Lost Funding Over LGBTQ+ Books
The Patmos Library in Hudsonville, Michigan, had been described as the "center of the community" but came under fire last Autumn from some residents who complained about the availability of LGBTQ+ media within the library. After a local vote slashed the budget of the Library by 84% – eliminating about $245,000 worth of annual funding – the Library Board's President said they expected to run out of money at some point in the next few months. "For individuals to be short-sighted to close [the library] down over opposing LGBTQ is very disappointing."
However, not all residents are happy with the vote's outcome, and some have come together to make up the funding – raising over $100,000 in the process.
Patmos Library had attempted to placate its critics by hiding some of the more "offensive" books (in reality, books about gender and sexuality) at the main desk, but this was not enough to prevent a majority of residents from voting against funding. The move came at a similar time at which Michigan's Supreme Court clarified that it is illegal to discriminate against employees or customers because of their sexuality or gender.
The fundraiser is now almost halfway to its $245,000 goal, and donations are continuing to pour in.
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