Former Wyoming Library Director Settles Lawsuit for $700,000
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — A former library director in Wyoming, who was dismissed amid a debate over books containing sexual content and LGBTQ+ themes, has agreed to pay $700,000 following a legal settlement.
Terry Leslie, who served as the director for Campbell County’s library system, was fired in 2023 after a controversial episode at the Gillette library two years earlier. Leslie initiated a lawsuit regarding her termination last spring and reached a settlement with county authorities on Wednesday.
“I feel vindicated. It’s been a tough road, but I’ve never regretted standing up for the First Amendment,” Leslie remarked.
Campbell County is known as a major coal mining area and is, notably, one of the more conservative regions in an already conservative state.
In her federal lawsuit, Leslie contended that public officials in Campbell County violated her First Amendment rights by siding against the books. The county, however, denied these allegations, claiming in court documents that her performance, not the controversy over the books, determined her termination.
County officials, including attorney Patrick Holscher and County Attorney Nathan Henkes, did not respond immediately to requests for comments on Wednesday.
Among the books contested in Gillette were titles such as “This Book Is Gay” by Juno Dawson and “How to Make a Baby” by Anna Fisk, alongside others addressing dating and teen topics.
Leslie’s attorney, Iris Halpern, expressed hope that the settlement would send a message to library districts and counties nationwide about the importance of the First Amendment and the ongoing fight against discrimination. “These are public entities, and their constitutional duties must be upheld,” Halpern stated.
While Leslie will be dropping her lawsuit against the county, she has indicated that a separate lawsuit against three individuals who opposed the books will continue. Moreover, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has authorized a lawsuit concerning Leslie’s previously filed EEOC complaint against the county.
