Florida County bans "gay pride": actions spurred by library exhibit; professional associations fight back.

In an action that spawned national criticism, including censure from the American Library Association (see p. 43) and the Florida Library Association (FLA), the Hillsborough County Commission voted 5-1 to ban the county government from acknowledging gay pride--a vote prompted after a display at a branch library on gay and lesbian books generated controversy.

Joe Stines, director of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library, told LJ that, on the advice of the county attorney's office, the library temporarily took down gay and lesbian book displays at three branches.

While Stines said librarians were confident that the policy didn't apply to acquisition of …