Over 100 people showed up Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. at the Rye Public Library to demonstrate their support of an educational program supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Under pressure from the leader of the Rye Republican party, the library postponed "Practical Allyship 101," without setting a date for the program. The Rye community organized to show its disapproval of the postponement decision as well as the leader of the Republicans in Rye. NH Outright, a non-profit organization with a mission to serve LGBTQIA+ youth including protection against discrimination, was originally scheduled to hold the meeting on May 29, 2025.
The Rye event was "postponed" in an announcement this week by library board chair JoAnn Hodgdon, so library supporters and members of the community organized to demonstrate support of the program. Hodgdon said, “the Rye Public Library strives to maintain a neutral approach in its programming and does not advocate for any particular position or ideology.
Chairman of the Rye Selectboard, Bob McGrath said that the turnout for support of the library is what Rye is all about, and he praised those who showed up Saturday morning.
The library says the event with NH Outright will be rescheduled.
State Representatives Dennis Malloy, Jaci Grote, Peggy Balboni and Bella attended the rally on Saturday May 25, 2025 in support of the Rye Public Library Board of Trustees that fought back against protests of an event by NH Outright.