More than 2,000 people have called for Staffordshire County Council to reverse any policy preventing libraries from putting up Pride displays.

Council leader Martin Murray has taken to social media to state that Pride events will no longer be promoted in the county's public libraries, following claims in recent days that displays had been removed.

Pride Month celebrates diversity and commemorates the history of the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community, coinciding with the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots of 1969 in the US. Community events are set to take place in Stoke-on-Trent this weekend and the Staffordshire Moorlands later this month, with Stafford Pride being held in August.

Staffordshire County Council came under the control of Reform UK following last year's council elections. The authority has stressed that LGBTQ+ materials continue to be available to loan from its libraries.

Councillor Hayley Coles, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture said: "Staffordshire's libraries are for everyone. They give local people access to books, digital resources, advice, activities and council services, and they are increasingly becoming community hubs where people can learn, connect and get practical support.

"As part of that approach, we are applying a consistent approach across our libraries on how public display space is used. Displays will focus on the core library offer, local services, reading and learning.

"Our priority is to keep libraries welcoming, useful and accessible to everyone."

In a social media post this week, Councillor Murray said: "There has been a lot of commentary, and unfortunately, quite some politicisation about Staffordshire libraries in recent days.

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"Let me first make one point very clear: no books have been removed from your library shelves, no authors have been pulled from the catalogue, no titles have been placed off-limits.

"Our new Staffordshire County Council Libraries Strategy will focus on core services and will no longer use taxpayer-funded resources, sites and communications channels to promote any particular group, cause or identity. That applies consistently to every group and every cause.

"Your library services belong to everyone in Staffordshire equally – they are not there to promote or privilege particular groups, causes or identities, however well-intentioned. As such, Pride events will no longer be promoted in our public libraries."

An online petition against the policy gained more than 500 signatures in under 48 hours – and by 10am on Tuesday (16 June) more than 2,000 people had signed.

The petition stated: "We call on Staffordshire County Council to reverse any policy that prevents libraries and other council services from displaying materials that recognise and celebrate LGBTQ+ communities and other protected groups during awareness and heritage months.

"Libraries are places of learning, inclusion, and representation. Their role is to reflect the diverse communities they serve, ensuring that everyone can see themselves represented and welcomed.

"Displays marking occasions such as LGBTQ+ History Month, Pride Month, Black History Month, Disability History Month, and other awareness events are not political statements. They are expressions of visibility, education, community engagement, and equality.

"LGBTQ+ people are not an ideology, they are members of our communities, families, workplaces, schools, and public services. Recognising their existence and contributions is not political campaigning; it is a reflection of reality and a commitment to equal treatment."

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Stafford Pride Chairman Jack Taylor-Walker said in an open letter to council leader Martin Murray: "You must overturn this vile decision and apologise to not only our community but your library staff and volunteers."

Eight Staffordshire MPs – Jacob Collier (Burton and Uttoxeter), Sarah Edwards (Tamworth), Dr Allison Gardner (Stoke-on-Trent South), Leigh Ingham (Stafford, Eccleshall, and the villages), Adam Jogee (Newcastle-under-Lyme), Josh Newbury (Cannock Chase), Dave Robertson (Lichfield, Burntwood, and the villages) and David Williams (Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove) – have also written to Councillor Murray to raise concerns about the claims of of LGBTQ+ displays being removed from Staffordshire's libraries.

They said in their joint letter: "If this is the case, we are calling for you to immediately reverse this harmful decision and reinstate Pride month displays and activities across Staffordshire's library network.

"Public libraries are a valued source of information, education, and community. Taking down displays would send a clear and harmful message to LGBTQ+ library users and staff that their stories and community do not deserve to be celebrated – or even acknowledged – in public spaces."