Emily Drabinski, president of the American Library Association, doubles down on tweet admitting she’s a “Marxist lesbian,” leading states like Montana to cut ties with the group

The president of the American Library Association, who began her term in July by declaring herself a “Marxist lesbian” upon election, is now facing fierce criticism from conservatives and states are cutting ties with her group.

In April 2022, after being elected to her current position, Emily Drabinski, 48, tweeted (and has since been deleted): “I just can’t believe that a Marxist lesbian who believes collective power can be built and used for a better world is the president-elect of @ALALibrary’

“I’m so excited about what we’re going to do together. Solidarity! And my mom is SO PROUD. I love you mom.’

Republican lawmakers have targeted the tweet as a reason, in part, for their respective states to dissolve and leave the ALA, the oldest and largest non-profit library trade association.

In July, Montana officially became the first state to completely cut ties with the ALA, an “organization led by a Marxist,” according to the state’s library commission.

The Montana official cut ties with the ALA, with other states pursuing the same

Conservative politicians in Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina and Wyoming have encouraged their states’ libraries to pull out of the nonprofit.

Republicans have claimed that librarians and library professionals following the lead of the ALA have been captured and influenced by a “woke” ideology.

They have further labeled the organization as “radical” and claimed it pushes a sexual agenda on children.

Despite the backlash, Drabinski, who is queer, says she won’t hide her political views or sexuality.

“I’ve been thrilled to highlight and celebrate two aspects of my identity that are very important to me, and are often scrutinized,” Drabinski said during her first interview since taking on her year-long position.

She said she was excited to show a sense of pride to her peers and peers who share her political identity with her.

“I didn’t expect this kind of targeted attack to be used as a cudgel against librarians across the country. I really regret that, and I wish that didn’t happen now,” she said.

Drabinski has also said she wants to make sure black people and members of the LGBTQ community see themselves reflected in the books on their local library shelves.

The organization’s new president believes she stepped into her role at a time when right-wing politicians and activists are targeting libraries in an effort to limit the books on their bookshelves with LGBTQ themes deemed inappropriate for children.

Last year, the ALA documented the highest number of proposed book cans since it began tracking such efforts in 2001.

Criminal charges have been filed in Florida, West Virginia and Pennsylvania against librarians who attempted to have them arrested and charged with obscenity. None have succeeded so far.

Montana State Library Commission administrators debated leaving the ALA at their meeting last month, when a member said their oath of office prohibited them from being part of a group led by a Marxist

Responding to the criticism of her personal politics, Drabinski said, “My own personal political position is a target at the moment, but my personal agenda is not driving the association. It is the agenda of all of us together’

Recently, Senators Marco Rubio of Florida, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Mike Braun of Indiana demanded that federal funding to the ALA be stopped.

They are also urging the government to investigate the organization that allegedly advised librarians to discriminate against a Christian book publisher.

Drabinski says this push from conservative critics is an “organized attempt at censorship” by individuals seeking to “erode support for public institutions that allow access to information for all.”

My own personal political position is currently a target, but my personal agenda is not driving the association. It’s the agenda of all of us together,” she added.

The organization says it plans to strengthen its support for libraries facing political headwinds, including by raising money to hire lawyers and provide crisis communications teams.

ALA is also launching a campaign to support people “who believe in intellectual freedom” running for school and library boards.

The effort follows a significant push in the US for conservatives and parents who disagree with public school policies on issues ranging from COVID to the treatment of the two genders to gain seats on school boards.

This January, the ALA is hosting an Intellectual Freedom Summit in Washington, DC. The last time it held such a summit was during the McCarthy era, when writers and educators were accused of having communist sympathies.

At the time, libraries were forced to give specific labels to books deemed “un-American.”

The last time state departments pulled out of the ALA was during the Jim Crew era, after the national office said it would not host events in segregated states, the organization said.

Tom Burnett, a member of the Montana State Library Commission, said at last month’s meeting that their oath of office prohibits them from being associated with a group led by a Marxist.

Jonathan Friedman, the director of free speech and education programs at PEN America, a First Amendment advocacy organization, says attacking the ALA “isn’t about the figurehead,” by which he means Drabinski.

“It’s much more about sending a chilling message to a larger number of people to let them know what’s happening to people who stand up for freedom of speech or freedom of identity.”

“It’s a really alarming precedent that they’re proposing here, which would be a kind of litmus test for the politics of all organizations that receive state funding, the likes of which have not been passed before in the United States,” he said. said.

Tom Burnett, a member of the Montana State Library Commission, said at last month’s meeting that their oath of office prohibits them from being associated with a group led by a Marxist.