Montana State Library cuts ties with American Library Association after new president identifies as 'Marxist lesbian': 'Constitution forbids association with an organization led by a Marxist'

In an unprecedented move, the Montana State Library voted on Tuesday to cut ties with the American Library Association after its new president repeatedly claimed to identify as a "Marxist."

The seven-member commission voted 5-1 this week to "immediately withdraw" from the ALA, making it the first state entity to leave the nonprofit, the Daily Signal reported.

In April 2022, Emily Drabinski was elected to become the ALA's next president. In celebration of her victory, she wrote in a now-deleted Twitter post last year, "I just cannot believe that a Marxist lesbian who believes that collective power is possible to build and can be wielded for a better world is the president-elect of @ALALibrary. I am so excited for what we will do together. Solidarity! And my mom is SO PROUD I love you mom."

In an interview, Drabinski stated that she was shocked about the blowback she received for declaring herself a Marxist.

"I was very surprised because the end of that tweet, which no one ever mentions, is that I also said, 'My mom is so proud of me,'" she stated.

Drabinski explained that being a Marxist is "very much who I am and shapes a lot of how I think about social change and making a difference in the world. But of course, I tweeted it into the middle of an extremely fractured society. One where we have the rise of an extremist right that has come for everything that I care about."

She added that "there are no public concerns about libraries grooming children" and that it is only "an extremist view."

However, in 2013, Drabinski wrote an article stressing the importance of "queering" the library, stating, "Queer theory informs new strategies for teaching the library catalog from a queer perspective."

Commissioner Tom Burnett filed the motion to sever ties with the ALA, stating, "Our oath of office and resulting duty to the Constitution forbids association with an organization led by a Marxist."

"Marxism stands in direct opposition to the principles of the Constitution of the United States," Burnett added. "It's fair to discuss and learn about Marxism, not to affiliate with Marxist-led organizations."

The ALA responded to the withdrawal on Thursday, detailing its membership benefits.

"In the last two years, ALA has awarded more than $218,000 to 23 Montana libraries via program grants ranging from $6,000 for Digital Literacy Training Workshops to $35,000 from ALA's Library COVID Relief Fund. Most recently, ALA announced a $10,000 grant to a Montana tribal college library. For its services to the broader public, ALA has received numerous awards and recognition," the ALA said in part.

It concluded, "Despite the decision in Montana this week, ALA remains committed to providing essential support, resources, and opportunities for every library and library worker in every state and territory across the nation to help them better serve their communities."

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