On June 17, 2026, I attended the Sonoma County Library’s “Celebrating Pride: Trans Voices on Identity, Visibility, and Community” event at the Rohnert Park–Cotati Library. What unfolded was not a celebration of inclusion, but a stark demonstration of selective tolerance, ideological gatekeeping, and the silencing of dissenting viewpoints — particularly those expressed by BIPOC Christians.
The library later refused to sponsor any event I proposed, despite never informing me that sponsorship was even an option. Their actions reveal a troubling pattern: certain voices are elevated, while others — especially religious, conservative, or critical perspectives — are shut out before they can even participate in the public process.
During the panel, I asked a respectful, relevant question: whether the speakers felt comfortable imposing white liberal ideology onto Black and Brown God‑fearing communities. As a BIPOC follower of Christ, this question reflects lived experience and community reality.
Instead of engaging, panelists and attendees responded with hostility. When I began recording — a standard practice at public events held in public buildings — library staff told me I could not do so. Attendees shouted profanities. Staff demanded that I leave.
My adopted community elder, Michael Hilber, remained seated quietly. Within minutes, he texted me that he had been attacked. A panelist seized his phone and tablet from the chair beside him without consent. Attendees again shouted profanities. Library staff told him he was “guilty by association” simply for sitting next to me. Multiple officers were called to the scene, allegedly via 911.
This was not inclusion. It was targeted exclusion.
Later that day, Chief Tim Mattos of the Rohnert Park Police Department met with us. He informed us that the library violated our First Amendment rights by demanding our removal from a public event in a public building.
This directly contradicts the library’s later internal investigation.
Library Director Erika Thibault conducted an internal review. According to her email:
“My conclusion is that Library staff acted appropriately and in accordance with Library policies… Accordingly, the Library considers this matter closed.”
The investigation relied on staff statements and the library’s own interpretation of its policies. No external review. No neutral oversight. No acknowledgment of the police chief’s findings. No accountability.
When I requested an external investigator, the library refused.
On July 13, 2026, I requested to reserve the Rohnert Park Library event room for a community panel on misuse of public funds and misconduct — a civic topic directly relevant to public interest.
I wrote:
“I expect that the library will fully publicize my event, as they do for all others.”
The library responded by stating that my event would be treated as a private, non‑library‑sponsored meeting, and therefore they would not publicize it.
But here is the critical issue:
This is not equal access. It is pre‑emptive exclusion.
The library sponsored the Pride panel — an event that openly attacked Christians/Catholics — yet refused to even allow me to apply for sponsorship of a Christian‑led civic accountability event.
In my email, I asked:
“Why did you deny sponsoring my proposal before it was even submitted?”
This question remains unanswered.
The library’s Meeting Room Policy states that non‑sponsored events must include the disclaimer:
“This program is neither sponsored by nor affiliated with the Sonoma County Library.”
But nowhere in my correspondence did the library:
inform me that sponsorship was available,
provide instructions on how to apply,
offer a program proposal form, or
explain how sponsorship decisions are made.
Instead, they unilaterally decided my event would not be sponsored — without process, without transparency, and without equal opportunity.
The sequence of events shows a clear pattern:
A BIPOC Christian asks a respectful question → removed from the event.
A conservative elder sits quietly → attacked and blamed by association.
Police confirm rights violations → library denies wrongdoing.
A community member requests equal access → library pre‑emptively denies sponsorship.
A Christian‑led civic event is proposed → library refuses to publicize it.
This is not inclusion.
This is not equity.
This is not democratic practice.
It is ideological gatekeeping disguised as policy.
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