Local Censorship Timeline

To see a list of challenged materials and their current status at Douglas County Libraries, including the forms filed with each appeal/review request, please check out the DCL Challenge Log.

updated 08/25/2025

2025

  • May 1st: Governor Polis signs SB 25-63 into law, requiring school districts to create policies about the acquisition, retention, display and challenges of library materials. Among other measures intended to limit censorship in public schools, only parents of students in the school district will be allowed to challenge books. Read more in Colorado Newsline.
  • April: A federal judge orders Elizabeth School District, our nearby neighbor, to return 19 removed books that were deemed inappropriate by the school board back to the shelves. Read more in CPR News.
  • February/March: The three Douglas County commissioners (Laydon, Teal and newly elected Van Winkle) alter the longstanding appointment process for Douglas County Libraries (DCL) Board of Trustees. The commissioners disregard recommendations made by an interview panel drawn from the Partnership of Douglas County Governments, as described by former commissioner Lora Thomas in her newsletter. Instead, the BOCC directly appoints Amy Windju (yes, THAT Amy) of Castle Rock and Pam Hampton of Parker on February 24th, and Taylor Watson of Parker on March 4th. Both Windju and Hampton serve as district captains in the Douglas County GOP, and Windju advocated for the removal of LGBTQ library books in 2023. The story is covered by McKenna Harford in Colorado Community Media.

2024

  • December: Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas resigns, accusing fellow commissioners George Teal and Abe Laydon of bullying and making closed-door decisions. In a statement to CBS News Colorado, Thomas says that Teal publicly defamed Meghann Silverthorn of the Library Board and that Silverthorn’s attorney has filed a Notice of Intent to Sue the County. 
  • September 10th: Commissioner Teal presents a resolution at the September BOCC Meeting to remove Meghann Silverthorn from the Douglas County Library (DLC) Board of Trustees. After comments, Commissioner Thomas moves that the BOCC deny the resolution to remove Silverthorn from her appointment, and Laydon seconds this motion.
  • September 5th: The Douglas County Library (DCL) Board of Trustees convenes a special meeting to amend the previous Motion 24-08-08 authorizing Board President Nolan to speak before the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) at their September 10 meeting. Silverthorn shared she believes that this is related to a political matter and recommends that a public statement or a Board letter be read out loud, or that public comment be given at the BOCC meeting, versus just sending the letter to the BOCC. Nolan moves and the motion carries unanimously, with Silverthorn abstaining, to modify Motion 24-08-08  and instead direct a Board representative to read the presented letter on behalf of the Board at the September 10 BOCC meeting, with said letter stating that based on Colorado Library Law and Douglas County Libraries Bylaws, the Board sees no cause for removal of Silverthorn in her duties to the Library.
  • August 28th:  At the August Douglas County Library (DCL) Board of Trustees Business Meeting, Trustee Terry Nolan shares a call he received stating that two of the three Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) members were acting to remove trustee Meghann Silverthorn. Nolan reads certain parts of Colorado Library Law and the Douglas County Libraries Board Bylaws concerning trustee removal. Nolan moves and the motion carries unanimously, with Silverthorn abstaining, that the Board authorizes Nolan to testify at the September 10 BOCC meeting stating that Silverthorn’s service on the Library Board has been good and the Library has no known cause for her removal.
  • August 28th: Commissioner Teal informs the BOCC that an investigation will be launched against Meghann Silverthorn pertaining to the execution of her duties as Treasurer of the DC Republicans. Teal recommends her removal from the Douglas County Libraries (DCL) Board of Trustees to avoid embarrassment to the County and the Library Board. The motion passes 2-0 (Laydon and Teal in favor, Thomas excused).
  • May 31st: Governor Polis signs Senate Bill 24-216 into law, requiring public libraries to have written reconsideration policies, among other measures intended to limit the rise of censorship in the state. Here’s what the Colorado State Library says the new law does (and doesn’t) do.

August 2023

  • 08/23/23: The DCL Board of Trustees votes unanimously to uphold the library policies. The four books appealed will remain in the collection… for now. Comments made by both public and even some trustees indicate that library policies will be targeted next. The fight for the right to read isn’t over yet! The story is covered by major news outlets including Denver7 News, 9 News, CBS Colorado and Fox News. Andrew at Colorado Newsline and McKenna at Colorado Community Media give the most comprehensive coverage.
  • 08/22/23: All eyes are on the Douglas County Library trustees as the board meeting which will decide the fate of 4 challenged LGBTQ books draws closer. CBS Colorado and the Denver Post cover the story, interviewing both Douglas County FReadom Defenders and Aaron Wood.

July 2023

  • Over the summer, the Library Board of Trustees reads 4 books in preparation for their August meeting: All Boys Aren’t Blue; This Book is Gay; The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish; and Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts). Douglas County FReadom Defenders circulate a petition and gather more than 1,400 valid signatures. Meanwhile, Aaron Wood encourages his Facebook followers to use BookLooks (a Moms 4 Liberty owned review website) and file more library appeals. Wood continues to lead the charge against PrideFest, making many of the same arguments we hear at library board meetings, as seen in this video.

June 2023

  • 06/28/23: The Library Board of Trustees June Business meeting convenes at 5:30PM at the Castle Pines Library. The story is covered by Colorado Newsline. The Board announces that 4 titles have been appealed past the Director; the Board will read the challenged titles over the summer and deliberate at the August Board Business Meeting, which is scheduled for August 23rd at the Parker Library. Save the date and sign/share the petition!
  • 06/?/23: Executive Library Director Bob Pasicznyuk responds to four title appeals, declining to remove, relocate or relabel the materials. If the originators proceed, the appeals will be reviewed by the Library Board of Trustees, who will make the final decision. Tell Bob thank you and copy the trustees on your message!
  • 06/02/23: Aaron Wood declares “WE ARE WINNING” on his Facebook page, exhorts his followers to take continued action and shares a new misleading piece of propaganda. Independent Colorado journalist Joy Overbeck is quick to share the fake news to her Facebook, falsely asserting that the library has moved three challenged titles to the adult section. Get the truth with our Fact Check post.

May 2023

  • 05/31/23: The Library Board of Trustees May Business meeting convenes at 5:30PM at the Castle Pines Library. Public comment is heard first. The Freedom Fathers and their followers are outnumbered almost 2-1 in public comment; the majority of speakers support the freedom to read. The meeting is covered by Colorado Newsline and NewsBreak.
  • 05/27/23: Aaron Wood posts an initial call to action to the Freedom Fathers Facebook Page and reiterates the call on May 30th, calling on conservatives to push back against “radical Marxists” pushing “the ungodly trans agenda.” Kelly Jensen at Book Riot breaks down the disinformation in the flier that accompanies the post.
  • 05/24/23: The Douglas County FReadom Defenders launch on Instagram; the website launches soon after.

April 2023

  • 04/26/23: The Library Board of Trustees meeting convenes at 5:30PM at the Highlands Ranch Library. Public comment is heard first. The Freedom Fathers and their followers call for materials to be removed, locked up and even burned in a bonfire. An equal number of community members speak in defense of the freedom to read. Aaron Wood livestreams the meeting to his Facebook page; the recording is later deleted. The story is covered by Colorado Newsline.
  • 04/25/23: The Freedom Fathers, a conservative Christian men’s group led by aspiring state GOP chair Aaron Wood, launch their attack against LGBTQ materials at Douglas County Libraries. Aaron Wood calls on his Facebook page followers to attend the Library Board of Trustees meeting at the Highlands Ranch Library and make public comment. Wood has been targeting the Douglas County LGBTQ community since last year, when he organized a protest against the first-ever Highlands Ranch drag show and campaigned to cancel PrideFest.