Alabama Senate votes to change archives oversight after LGBTQ+ lecture
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama Senate voted Wednesday to give a politically appointed board control of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, a change proposed after some lawmakers were upset about the department hosting a lecture on LGBTQ+ history.
State senators also approved legislation that would allow local government officials to fire library board members they appoint if they become dissatisfied with their performance. Both bills now head to the Alabama House of Representatives.
The Archives’ monthly lunch lecture series last year included a presentation in June titled “Invisible No More: Alabama’s LGBTQ+ History.” The lecture discussed topics ranging from the state’s first Pride march to the contributions of gay Alabamians.
Sen. Chris Elliott, the sponsor of the bills passed Wednesday, said a dozen lawmakers called the archives and urged them to cancel the reading, but the department went ahead with it.
‘This is not history. This is indoctrination,” Elliott said during the debate. He said the change would ensure board members are responsive to elected officials. “I make sure there’s some accountability,” Elliott said.
Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton told Elliott that his bill appeared to be retaliation because department officials did not change course when the “big, bad senator” called.
“I let history be history,” Singleton said.
The board currently consists of two members from each congressional district, two at-large members and the governor. Board members are selected by a vote of the trustees and confirmed by the Alabama Senate. Current board members include famed civil rights attorney Fred Gray, who is perhaps best known for representing Rosa Parks after she refused to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery city bus in 1955.
Under the legislation, the board would be appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and legislative leaders. The archives bill was approved by a vote of 25 to 8.
The bill regarding local libraries is being debated as conservative groups in several states have sought to remove or limit access to children’s books with LGBTQ content. Elliott said existing state law gives local councils the ability to appoint library board members but does not currently provide a mechanism for dismissal. The bill was approved by a vote of 26 to 7.