Alabama lawmakers want to change archives oversight after dispute over LGBTQ+ lecture

Lawmakers on Tuesday advanced legislation to put a politically appointed board in control of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, pushing the change after some lawmakers were upset last year about the department hosting a lecture on LGBTQ+ history.

The Senate County and Municipal Government advanced the bill on a vote that broke down along party and racial lines. It now moves to the Alabama Senate.

The bill by Republican Sen. Chris Elliott of Daphne would remove the board of trustees on June 1 and replace it with a new board appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the House of Representatives, and president pro tempore of the Alabama Senate. Republicans currently hold all of those positions.

Elliott called the bill an attempt to increase accountability. But opponents said the structure works well and the change would inject politics into the decisions of the department.

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“Why? What is the compelling problem or need warranting such a radical change?” Delores Boyd, the chair of the board of trustees, said.

The board has two members from each congressional district, two at-large members, and the governor. Board members are selected by a vote of the trustees and confirmed by the Alabama Senate. Current board members include celebrated civil rights lawyer Fred Gray, who is perhaps best known for representing Rosa Parks after her she refused to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery city bus in 1955.

Elliott, speaking after the meeting, said the board should have “some accountability to elected officials” instead of being a self-perpetuating board that selects its own members.

Some lawmakers, including Elliott, last year were upset that the Archives hosted a lunchtime lecture titled “Invisible No More: Alabama’s LGBTQ+ History.” The lecture discussed topics ranging from the state’s first Pride march to the contributions of gay Alabamians. Several lawmakers had asked the Archives to cancel the lecture. Elliott last year proposed to rescind a $5 million supplemental appropriation to the Archives as a response.

Asked if the legislation is a response to the lecture, Elliott said the dispute highlighted how the board was structured.

“When suggestions were made or concerns were expressed, they weren’t necessarily taken to heart. So I think it’s important that we make sure that boards that operate outside of oversight have some sort of accountability, not just to elected officials, but to the people,” Elliott said.