Greenville County settled a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by a former Five Forks Library branch manager who said he was wrongfully terminated for not agreeing to cancel an event that featured drag queens reading to children.
Jonathan Newton received $30,000 in a settlement about three months after filing the lawsuit in Greenville County, according to public records from the state Comptroller General. The South Carolina Reserve Fund paid the settlement on the county's behalf, plus more than $7,600 in legal expenses.
Newton filed the lawsuit in April to recover lost wages and to draw attention to the issue after he said he was forced to resign from his job after Drag Queen Story Hour, The Greenville News previously reported.
Newton's attorney, Jay Anthony, said he and Newton could not comment on the settlement. Requests for comment from the county and Library Director Beverly James were not returned Monday afternoon. The Greenville News has filed a records request with the county for a copy of the settlement agreement.
A private group called Moms Liberal Happy Hour organized the event and applied to use space at the Five Forks Library for a storytelling event that invited children to hear stories read by drag queens. As word of the event spread in the Upstate, critics raised objections to using public facilities to host an event they said was inappropriate. Petitions in support and opposition to the story hour circulated online, gathering thousands of signatures.
Then the event was canceled for violating a library policy about ticketed events. According to the lawsuit, Newton allowed the event organizers to address the policy issue and refile their application.
The storytelling event happened Feb. 17, 2019 as protesters and counter-protesters gathered in the parking lot with Greenville County Sheriff's Office deputies there for security.
About a month later, Library Director Beverly James told Newton he was terminated, the lawsuit states. He also was given a chance to resign.
Two other managers at different Greenville County library branches also left their jobs following the event.
Haley Walters covers public safety, crime and breaking news. Email her at hwalters@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @_haleywalters
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August 11, 2020 at 07:02PM
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Greenville County settles lawsuit with ex-librarian in relation to Drag Queen Story Hour - Greenville News
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