09/06/2026
STATEMENT FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF WARWICKSHIRE PRIDE
Warwickshire Pride is deeply concerned by the statement issued by Councillor George Finch, Leader of Warwickshire County Council, regarding libraries, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and what he describes as "contested gender ideology."
At a time when LGBTQ+ people, and particularly transgender people, are facing increasing hostility, misinformation, and political targeting, it is disappointing to see the Leader of Warwickshire County Council adopt language that further marginalises members of our community.
Councillor Finch's statement presents the existence of transgender people and information about LGBTQ+ identities as a political ideology rather than the lived reality of thousands of people across Warwickshire. Being le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender, or otherwise part of the LGBTQ+ community is not an ideology. It is not a political campaign. It is not a belief system. It is simply part of the rich diversity of human experience.
Libraries exist to provide access to knowledge, information, literature, and diverse perspectives. The suggestion that books or resources acknowledging LGBTQ+ people somehow undermine neutrality is both misleading and dangerous. Representation is not indoctrination. Inclusion is not political campaigning. Ensuring that LGBTQ+ people can see themselves reflected in books, educational materials, and public spaces is no different from ensuring that people of different faiths, ethnicities, disabilities, ages, and backgrounds are represented.
Warwickshire Pride is proud to work alongside Warwickshire Libraries through our LGBTQ+ book groups at Leamington Spa Library and Stratford-upon-Avon Library. These groups provide safe, welcoming spaces where people can come together to discuss literature, share experiences, and combat social isolation. They are a positive example of libraries doing exactly what they are intended to do: bringing communities together, encouraging learning, and fostering understanding between people from different walks of life.
We also want to express our full support and solidarity with library employees across Warwickshire. Library staff work tirelessly to provide inclusive, accessible services for everyone in our communities. They should not be subjected to political attacks simply for ensuring that library collections reflect the diversity of the people they serve. We thank them for their professionalism, dedication, and commitment to making libraries welcoming spaces for all.
We are particularly concerned by the implication that information relating to gender identity and LGBTQ+ lives requires special scrutiny beyond that applied to other groups in society. Such rhetoric risks creating an environment where LGBTQ+ people are singled out, treated as inherently controversial, and excluded from public life.
Councillor Finch states that Warwickshire County Council should "inform and serve residents, not campaign at them." We agree. The Council's role is to serve all residents equally, including LGBTQ+ residents, transgender residents, LGBTQ+ families, and young people who may be questioning who they are. Public institutions should be places where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and valued.
History teaches us important lessons about what happens when politicians begin deciding which books, ideas, identities, or groups are acceptable in public spaces. The book burnings of N**i Germany stand as one of history's starkest warnings about the dangers of restricting access to information, suppressing diverse viewpoints, and targeting minority communities. While today's circumstances are clearly different, the principle remains relevant: public bodies should not seek to limit access to information simply because it relates to a minority group or because some people find it uncomfortable. Libraries should be places of learning, exploration, and understanding, not tools for political censorship.
Unfortunately, this latest statement does not exist in isolation. Warwickshire Pride believes that Councillor Finch's comments form part of a wider pattern of rhetoric that has targeted transgender people and contributed to hostility towards the wider LGBTQ+ community. As a result, Warwickshire Pride has submitted a formal complaint under Warwickshire County Council's Code of Conduct process regarding Councillor Finch's conduct and public statements. We believe elected representatives have a responsibility to uphold standards of respect, equality, and inclusion for all residents, particularly those from minority communities.
Warwickshire Pride therefore calls upon Councillor Finch to withdraw his statement and engage constructively with LGBTQ+ communities across Warwickshire. We also call upon him to reaffirm his commitment to serving all residents of our county equally, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or background.
As a public servant, the Leader of the Council has a responsibility to represent every resident of Warwickshire, not just those who share his personal or political views. Leadership requires bringing communities together, not singling out already vulnerable groups for political attention.
Warwickshire Pride remains committed to working with councillors of all political parties, public bodies, community organisations, library services, and residents to build a county where everyone is treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.
Warwickshire Pride would welcome the opportunity to meet with Councillor Finch and the Council's leadership to discuss these concerns and ensure that LGBTQ+ residents continue to feel valued, represented, and safe within Warwickshire's public services. Meaningful dialogue, based on respect, evidence, and lived experience, is essential if we are to build a Warwickshire where everyone feels they belong and where no community is made to feel unwelcome or excluded.
We urge Warwickshire County Council to stand firmly on the side of inclusion, equality, evidence-based policy, and the rights of all residents to access information freely and without discrimination.
Board of Trustees
Warwickshire Pride
