In a recent meeting of the Sumner County Library Board in Middle Tennessee, county officials again attempted and failed to pass a sweeping policy that would have effectively banned library books addressing transgender themes. It marks the fourth time in a matter of months that the county has sought to enact such restrictions and come up short.
Policy on the Table
The proposed policy would have barred any interlibrary requests for books that the board said “promote transgender or gender confusion in minors,” and would have empowered the board to remove or reclassify materials deemed to fit that description. In doing so, the county pointed to what supporters described as a concern about protecting children from “gender ideology.” Critics saw it as a direct attempt at banning certain voices from public libraries.
A Pattern of Defeats
This is not a one-off. According to reporting, Sumner County has been trying for months to push through this type of ban, and the library board has repeatedly rejected it. Despite persistent efforts by board members and local activists, the measure failed yet again on October 30, 2025.
A New Conservative Push
In the midst of these repeated failures, the county has begun reshaping its library board. Anti-trans activist, Riley Gaines, a Gallatin native and outspoken critic of transgender inclusion in athletics, was announced as the newest library board member in an October 21 social media post.
A second open position was filled by Steve Wasilowski, according to the Sumner County Democratic Party. County Commissioner Tim Jones said on social media that Gaines’ appointment was made in direct response to the board’s ongoing struggle to pass the controversial policy.
Voices of Opposition and Warning Lights
At the meeting, a number of community members spoke out against the proposed policy. One resident told the board that the attempt to remove or restrict access to transgender-themed books was tantamount to censorship, not safeguarding children. For many within the trans and LGBTQ+ community, the measure felt like a message of exclusion and a reminder of how local governance can become a battleground over identity and access.
Why This Matters
Library collections are not just about reading material; they are about access, representation, and community values. When a public body tries to draw a line around what kinds of stories or identities are acceptable, it raises questions about free speech, exclusion, and the role of public institutions in fostering or hindering belonging. In this case, the repeated attempts in Sumner County highlight a community struggling with whether and how to change its rules to exclude transgender-themed books.
What This Shows
- Persistence of policy change efforts: The fact that this is the fourth attempt signals that the movement to restrict trans-themed books is not going away in Sumner County.
- Board resistance: The library board’s repeated rejections show that local institutional actors are not simply rubber-stamping these proposals.
- Broader trend: While this is a local story, it reflects a national pattern of efforts targeting transgender content in libraries and schools.
- Representation matters: For transgender youth and adults, seeing themselves in books is not optional; it is a form of validation and access. Removing or limiting those books sends a message of invisibility or unacceptability.
The Bottom Line
While the policy failed this time, the effort is likely not over. Local activists on both sides of the issue remain motivated. For trans advocates, the concern is that even rejected measures create chilling effects: librarians may self-censor, and parents may avoid library visits for fear of controversy. For opponents, the goal remains forging policies that restrict access under the banner of “age-appropriate content.”
For the community of trans people, their families, and the allies who show up, this is a moment to stay alert and engaged. The library shelves are more than just books; they reflect who belongs, whose stories are told, and what kinds of futures are allowed. In Sumner County, the repeated attempts to ban transgender-themed books may have failed, but they also signal that this local story is far from over.
