May 4, 2026, 5:02 a.m. CT
- Advocate Brendon Donoho speaks out against censorship
- Donoho questions board rejection of ‘queer characters’
- Donoho questions banning of ‘Beloved,’ a 1988 Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Toni Morrison, a U.S. author who won 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature
Readers who want access to banned books in Rutherford County can still find them thanks to the efforts of a local free speech advocate.
Murfreesboro resident Brendon Donoho’s free library website, borobannedbooks.com, offers access to about 150 titles, including the following four the majority of the Rutherford County Library System Board decided to remove from branches in August 2023:
- “Flamer” by Mike Curato
- “Let’s Talk About It (The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human)” by Erika Moen
- “Queerfully & Wonderfully Made (A Guide for LGBTQ+ Christian Teens)” edited by Leigh Finke
- “This Book is Gay” by Juno Dawson
Those backing book banning are pushing a message to tell LGBTQIA people, “You don’t belong in this community,” Donoho said.
“It’s hurting people. When you dehumanize people, you end up dehumanizing yourself.”
Donoho has joined others, including fired Rutherford County Library System Director Luanne James, to oppose the March 16 decision by the majority of the board to move 132 children’s books, including over 100 on LGBTQIA topics, to the adult section.
“She took a big risk for the community, and I think the community stood up for her,” Donoho said.
Donoho’s library website works through donations of the books and money to cover shipping costs. He sometimes delivers books to readers at coffee shops or by their front doors.
2023 censorship: Library supporters upset by board pulling 4 books say they’re ‘fighting against censorship’
Donoho speaks out against censorship
Donoho also has spoken against book banning during public comment at library system board meetings.
Most of the 240-plus people packing the Rutherford County Courthouse in downtown Murfreesboro at two meetings opposed the majority board vote to move the children’s books to the adult section March 16 and fire James March 30.
James refused to move the books in question to the adult section because she said the majority decision violated the First Amendment rights of the authors who wrote the books for children as well as the children and parents wanting access to the books.
Donoho said book banning is about ‘power” to “make LGBTQIA people feel unwelcome.”
“It’s fear of other people, fear of what is the human condition,” he said.
Censorship 2026: Rutherford County Library System Board moves books on ‘gender confusion’ to adult sections
Donoho questions board rejection of ‘queer characters’
The board majority decision fails to recognize that “queer characters” have existed in stories for centuries, including in Greek and other ancient mythologies, Donoho said.
His borobannedbooks.com includes a section on local queer history.
“It’s important that people see themselves in stories,” Donoho said. “That’s a part of who we are.”
Describing himself as a straight man who loves watching drag performers, Donoho said libraries should provide access to books for all people rather than erase people from history.
“The library is supposed to be a resource, a repository of our stories,” Donoho said. “It’s incredibly important readers see their stories.”
First Amendment issue: Rutherford library director refuses to move children’s gender-related books to adult section
Opponents of censorship: ‘They will fight for you’
Once a book is banned from local libraries, Donoho said it takes borobannedbooks.com 90 seconds to find the book and provide access.
The website, Donoho said, demonstrates that there’s strong supporters for the people impacted by the book-banning decisions.
“They will fight for you,” Donoho said.
Fighting censorship: Rutherford County Library System Board fires director for stance to protect access to children’s LGBTQIA books
Supporters praise Donoho
Joining Donoho in the fight to provide access to banned books is Lindsay Schultz, owner of The Spine Bookshop in Smyrna.
“He’s a good guy,” Schultz said. “I support what he’s doing, and I am 100% in support because I’m doing it, too. It’s nice to have someone join the fight.”
Free speech issue: The Spine Bookshop wants to provide access to books banned by school officials: ‘It’s insane’
Rutherford County Library Alliance Vice President Keri Lambert also appreciates what Donoho is doing.
“RCLA is thankful for people like Brendon in our community for providing access to banned books or materials since our local government began their censorship efforts here in Rutherford County,” Lambert said.
“The books they are banning are the books that save children’s lives. We are trying to help to protect our youth.”
Recognization from The Spine Bookshop: Rutherford County library director gets ‘First Amendment Hero’ praise on children’s LGBTQIA books
Donoho questions banning of ‘Beloved’
After growing up in Southern Illinois near St. Louis, Donoho moved to Murfreesboro about 10 years ago to attend Middle Tennessee State University.
He earned a degree to work as an audio engineer for live concerts in downtown Nashville. Donoho also minored in journalism at MTSU.
Donoho was among readers opposed to a majority decision September 2024 by the Rutherford County Board of Education to ban from school libraries the 1988 Pulitzer Prize winning novel, “Beloved,” by U.S. author Toni Morrison, also the 1993 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature.
The Rutherford School Board has been in a federal First Amendment lawsuit since 2025 after removing more than 145 books viewed by the majority to be inappropriate for children, including “Beloved,” according to a news release from the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee.
“Beloved” describes characters who escaped from being enslaved, faced haunting challenges after the Civil War and confronted “white supremacy,” Donoho said.
“‘Beloved’ is about people’s humanity and what it means to be human and to defend your humanity,” Dohoho said.
More First Amendment challenges: Rutherford school board pulls ‘Beloved,’ 5 other books from campus libraries
Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.
