Scottish National Library Pulls Women’s Rights Book After LGBT Staff Pressure

A pro-women’s rights book selected for the National Library of Scotland’s centenary exhibition was removed following complaints from the library’s LGBT staff network. The Women Who Wouldn’t Wheesht, edited by Susan Dalgety and Lucy Hunter Blackburn, met the selection criteria and received more than double the nominations required for display. The collection features essays from women critical of Scotland’s gender self-identification law, including author J.K. Rowling.

National Librarian Amina Shah confirmed the removal, citing concerns that some stakeholders might withdraw support and that the library could suffer reputational damage. The LGBT staff network had labeled the book’s content “hate speech,” despite the essays presenting policy-based critiques rather than personal attacks. Other works in the exhibition expressed opposing views on gender identity and were allowed to remain.

Dalgety and Blackburn condemned the decision in an open letter, calling it “institutional censorship” and evidence of leadership unwilling to uphold the principle of intellectual freedom. Advocacy group For Women Scotland criticized the removal as “capitulation” to staff pressure and said it reinforced unfounded objections to the book’s content. The group argued that the library had failed in its public duty to represent a range of perspectives on controversial issues.

This case reflects a growing trend in public institutions toward avoiding debate in favor of avoiding offense.

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