Shana Wade’s miffed how homemade posters got cross with civil rights attorneys.

“Usually, public libraries and the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) are on the same side,” said Wade, public services director at the Mesa County Public Library’s main branch.

“It’s a little frustrating knowing we’re just trying to provide a community service,” she said. “The hardest speech to defend is that you don’t believe in.”

Staff with the library’s main branch Thursday morning added a disclaimer statement to a collection of posters hanging from the building’s rear stairwell — this the day after the Mesa County Public Library District’s attorney received a public records request from a Denver ACLU attorney asking for documents related to Christians for Healthy Families’ controversial presentation.

The new disclaimer — a sheet of paper taped Thursday morning at the top of the stairwell — reads “The Mesa County Public Library District does not endorse, support or advocate in any way, the viewpoints of exhibits or exhibitors.”

The ACLU letter that arrived locally on Wednesday suggested the absence of a disclaimer could lead a “reasonable observer” to believe the library endorses the display’s religious message.

Wade on Thursday said all approved and permitted displays at the library have included a clear statement about the individual or group sponsoring it. That, she said, seemed to satisfy everyone.

Then came Thursday.

“This is just to make it even more clear,” she said.



Wade said a permanent disclaimer “with very similar wording” was ordered on Wednesday and will accompany whatever future library displays may be in the works.

“I haven’t had a chance to speak with the library attorney, but I hope this resolves it,” she said.

Yes and no, says the man who raised the issue locally.

Content

“It certainly shows good faith on the part of the library and the board, but there’s the issue of the board’s policy as to content,” said Bill Hugenberg, a retired attorney who contacted ACLU on Monday.

ACLU’s request, filed under the Colorado Open Records Act, asked the library district for its written policies and guidelines for displays from outside parties, including those containing “a religious message” as well as documents specific to the Healthy Families presentation.

Susan Corle, the library district’s local attorney, has not returned several phone calls.

Mark Silverstein, ACLU’s legal director in Denver, said early Thursday afternoon they hadn’t received a response to the records request — state law provides three working days to do so.

Silverstein wasn’t clear about future ACLU involvement in the issue.

“Perhaps putting up a disclaimer will serve to prevent misunderstandings,” he said.

With or without those legal guns, Hugenberg said he plans on addressing the library board at its regular Feb. 22 meeting on content questions in library displays.

“The only relatively objective standard I see (in board policy) is these things have to be appropriate for all ages, but there’s no defined process here,” Hugenberg said. “Who decides, and how is it decided what’s appropriate?”

The current display’s reference to the Bible’s book of Leviticus amounts to “thinly veiled hate speech disguised as religion, to give it some modicum of respectability it doesn’t deserve,” Hugenberg said.

Among other topics, divorce and premarital sex — “We lose God’s protection,” reads one poster, “when we act like someone is our husband or wife before we are married.”

A three-paragraph policy statement now governs displays in Mesa County:

• “As a public institution dedicated to free expression and free access to ideas representing all points of view concerning the problems and issues of our time, the Library District provides exhibit and display space for individuals and groups.”

• As stated in Article 6 of the Library Bill of Rights, space is made available to the public on an “equitable basis regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of the individuals or groups requesting their use.”

• “The Library District makes no effort to censor or amend the content of the exhibit, but reserves the right to set and enforce guidelines. Those who object or disagree with the content of any exhibit are entitled to submit their own exhibit, which will be scheduled at the first available time. Exhibitors are asked to keep exhibits appropriate for all ages.”

‘Big bluff’

Carol Anderson on Thursday was busy finding her own attorneys, putting information together for the Alliance Defense Fund, an Arizona-based organization that litigates Christian causes.

“I think it’s just a big bluff to scare people out of standing up for what they know is right,” Anderson said of ACLU’s involvement.

Her exhibit at the heart of the debate followed an August display at the same location titled “Love Makes a Family,” which included photos of gay and multiracial couples with children.

“It was my concern that families may be misled on what was best for them,” Anderson said. “I’ve just been led by the Lord to speak the truth.”

Homosexuality, she said, takes up just “10 percent” of her display.

“The homosexual community is vastly overrating their importance,” she said.

“I think all this controversy is good, and these issues are touching people’s hearts.”

Reach Paul Shockley at pshockley@gjfreepress.com