From censorship to compensation: How a fired US librarian won $700K for defending free expression and why it sets a major precedent
A former US library director who was dismissed during a dispute over books with sexual content and LGBTQ+ themes will receive a $700,000 settlement after taking legal action against her former employer. Terri Lesley, previously the library system director in Campbell County, Wyoming, was fired in 2023 amid ongoing controversy surrounding certain book titles at the Gillette branch.Lesley filed a federal lawsuit against Campbell County, including its commission and library board, claiming that her dismissal was a violation of her First Amendment rights. On October 9, 2025, she reached a settlement with county officials and will receive $700,000 in compensation. The county denied the allegations, stating that her termination was related solely to her job performance, not the book-related controversy.Books challenged over LGBTQ+ and sexual contentThe dispute began in 2021 when several community members objected to books on the library’s youth shelves. The titles included This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson, How Do You Make a Baby by Anna Fiske, Doing It by Hannah Witton, Sex is a Funny Word by Corey Silverberg, and Dating and Sex: A Guide for the 21st Century Teen Boy by Andrew P. Smiler.Residents argued the books were inappropriate for children, citing their content related to sex education and LGBTQ+ identities. The controversy escalated over the next two years, with public officials in Campbell County siding with the objectors. Lesley, however, chose not to remove the titles, maintaining their place in the youth section of the library.Termination and legal proceedingsIn 2023, the Campbell County Library Board terminated Lesley. She later filed a complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which authorised her to proceed with a lawsuit. The legal claim alleged that her dismissal was retaliation for upholding constitutional rights to access information and resist censorship.The county, in court documents, rejected her claims. It maintained that Lesley’s removal was based on her professional performance, not her stance on book censorship. A private attorney, Patrick Holscher, represented the county in the lawsuit. According to the Associated Press, Holscher and County Attorney Nathan Henkes did not respond to requests for comment.Settlement reached, lawsuit droppedUnder the terms of the agreement reached on October 9, Lesley will drop her lawsuit against the county and its governing entities. However, a separate legal case she filed against three individuals who objected to the books remains ongoing.“I do feel vindicated. It’s been a rough road, but I will never regret standing up for the First Amendment,” Lesley said, as quoted by the Associated Press. Her attorney, Iris Halpern, from Rathod Mohamedbhai law firm in Denver, said the outcome should serve as a reminder to public institutions of their constitutional responsibilities.“We hope at least that it sends a message to other library districts, other states, other counties, that the First Amendment is alive and strong,” Halpern said, as reported by the Associated Press.Lesley’s case is one of several in recent years supported by Halpern’s firm involving library employees dismissed amid disputes over content and access.
