FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — A former Wyoming library director who was fired amid an uproar over books with sexual content and LGBTQ+ themes that some people complained were inappropriate for youngsters and who sought their removal from youth shelves will be paid $700,000 after settling a lawsuit.
Terri Lesley was fired as the library system director in northeastern Wyoming's Campbell County in 2023, two years into the book dispute at the library in Gillette. Lesley sued last spring over her termination and reached the settlement with county officials Wednesday.
"I do feel vindicated. It’s been a rough road, but I will never regret standing up for the First Amendment,” Lesley said.
A major coal-mining area on the Western high plains, Campbell County is among the most conservative areas in one of the most conservative states.
Public officials there sided with the book objectors and violated Lesley's First Amendment rights, Lesley claimed in her federal lawsuit against Campbell County, including its commission and library board.
The county denied Lesley's claims. Only Lesley's performance — not the dispute over the books — played a role in her dismissal, the county argued in court documents.
A private-practice attorney hired by the county for the lawsuit, Patrick Holscher, and County Attorney Nathan Henkes didn't immediately return phone messages Wednesday seeking comment.
The books objected to in Gillette included “This Book is Gay” by Juno Dawson, “How Do You Make a Baby” by Anna Fiske, “Doing It” by Hannah Witton, “Sex is a Funny Word” by Corey Silverberg, and “Dating and Sex: A Guide for the 21st Century Teen Boy” by Andrew P. Smiler.
“We hope at least that it sends a message to other library districts, other states, other counties, that the First Amendment is alive and strong and that our values against discrimination also remain alive and strong,” said Lesley’s attorney, Iris Halpern. “These are public entities, they’re government officials, they need to keep in mind their constitutional obligations.”
Halpern and her firm, Rathod Mohamedbhai in Denver, have supported fired library employees elsewhere in recent years. Under the settlement agreement, Lesley is dropping her lawsuit, though a separate lawsuit she has filed against three individuals who contested the books will continue.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency tasked with enforcing discrimination laws, allowed the lawsuit against the county officials to be filed based on an earlier EEOC complaint filed by Lesley.
FILE - A shirt makes a political statement in a storefront in Gillette, Wyo., Sept. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Mead Gruver, File)
JENBACH, Austria--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 9, 2025--
INNIO Group has been awarded the German Sustainability Award for Companies 2026. At the 18th annual ceremony in Düsseldorf, INNIO was named winner in the “Engines and Turbines” category within the “Machines and Installations” sector. Recognized as one of Europe’s most respected distinctions for corporate responsibility, the German Sustainability Award reflects the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 and thus on the key areas of transformation such as climate, biodiversity, resources, supply chain, and society.
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“This award is a tremendous recognition for our entire team and validates our 360-degree approach to sustainable innovation throughout the value chain,” said Marcin Kawa, VP Sustainability at INNIO Group. “We are committed to actively shaping the energy transition and delivering solutions that make sense for both the environment and our customers’ businesses.”
INNIO Group is a leading provider of advanced solutions for data center energy infrastructure, distributed power generation, and compression applications. INNIO helps customers around the world meet rising energy demand, driven by the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and increasing industrial electrification—as sustainably as possible. Through innovative technologies that enable the use of biogas, hydrogen, and e-fuels, as well as a circular economy approach with the potential to noticeably extend product lifespans, INNIO supports efficient, sustainable energy solutions across the entire product life cycle.
This recognition highlights INNIO’s leadership in developing sustainable energy solutions and transforming the industry.
INNIO has been recognized multiple times in the past for its commitment to sustainability. The company has received the EcoVadis Platinum Medal for the fourth consecutive year, placing it among the top 1% of all rated companies. In addition, INNIO has been named “ESG Industry Top Rated” by Sustainalytics Morningstar and has been awarded the “H2 Readiness” certificate by TÜV SÜD.
About INNIO Group
INNIO Group is a leading energy solution and service provider that empowers industries and communities to make sustainable energy work today. With its Jenbacher and Waukesha product brands and its AI-powered myplant digital platform, INNIO Group offers innovative solutions for data center power infrastructure, distributed power generation, and compression applications. With its flexible, scalable, and resilient energy solutions and services, INNIO Group enables its customers to drive the energy transition across the energy value chain and ensures reliable energy supply even where the grid is not available.
For more information, visit INNIO Group’s website at innio.com. Follow INNIO Group on X and LinkedIn.
INNIO wins prestigious German Sustainability Award 2026 (c) Frank Fendler
