Fired Wyoming library director wins $700,000 settlement

📌 Key Facts

Former Wyoming library director Lesley won a $700,000 settlement with the county over her firing in a dispute involving LGBTQ+ books.
The settlement resolves the lawsuit against county officials but Lesley’s separate suit against three individuals who contested the books will continue.
Lesley and her attorney say county officials violated her First Amendment rights and created a hostile work environment tied to challenges of LGBTQ+ books.
Specific titles cited in the dispute included This Book Is Gay and Sex Is a Funny Word.
Lesley says the library board refused to specify which books to remove, placing the burden on her to decide which titles to challenge or remove.
The EEOC issued a right-to-sue based on an earlier EEOC complaint, allowing Lesley’s federal lawsuit to be filed.
The county says the $700,000 was paid through its insurance company’s attorney, did not use public funds, and the settlement includes no admission of liability; county officials characterized the payment as a practical decision to avoid the costs of a federal trial.
Lesley was represented by attorney Iris Halpern of the Denver law firm Rathod Mohamedbhai.

On X, users highlight this settlement as part of a nationwide pattern of book bans targeting LGBTQ+ materials, often linking it to similar cases in states like Colorado and Arkansas where librarians have successfully sued over censorship attempts.
Many X posts celebrate the victory as a win for First Amendment rights, emphasizing how librarians like Lesley are frontline defenders against conservative efforts to restrict access to diverse books in public libraries.
Social media discussions on X point out the financial cost to taxpayers from these lawsuits, noting that settlements like this $700,000 payout come from public funds and could deter future book challenges.
X users frequently discuss the potential harm to LGBTQ+ youth from removing such books, arguing that mainstream coverage overlooks how these materials provide essential representation and education for marginalized communities.
Posts on X express support for librarians facing harassment, sharing stories of hostile work environments and calling for stronger protections, which adds personal context to the legal aspects covered in mainstream reports.

Based on 2 sources

Fox News October 14, 2025

New information:

County says the $700,000 payment was made through its insurance company’s attorney and did not use public funds.
Settlement includes no admission of liability; county characterizes it as a practical decision to avoid the costs of a federal trial.
Additional context on the book-challenge dispute and specific titles cited (e.g., This Book Is Gay; Sex Is a Funny Word), and confirmation of earlier EEOC right-to-sue timing.

https://www.facebook.com/CBSNews/ October 09, 2025

New information:

EEOC allowed Lesley’s lawsuit to be filed based on an earlier EEOC complaint.
Specific titles at issue are listed, including 'This Book is Gay' and 'Sex is a Funny Word.'
Lesley and her attorney say county officials violated her First Amendment rights and created a hostile work environment tied to LGBTQ+ book challenges.
Lesley says the board refused to specify which books to remove, asserting it placed the burden on her.
Her separate lawsuit against three individuals who contested the books will continue; this settlement ends the suit against county officials.
Attorney and firm identified: Iris Halpern, Rathod Mohamedbhai (Denver).

ABC News October 09, 2025