'Lessons learned' over library's LGBT youth event

"Lessons have been learned" in a long-running row over the appearance of sex education objects including anatomical models of genitalia at a "family-friendly" event held at a library, says a council leader.

Complaints about the LGBT Young Person's Day event organised by Out There and Exeter Library and held in October 2025 sparked an investigation by Libraries Unlimited, the charity that runs Devon's libraries.

A Reform UK councillor said the event, which attracted more than 800 people, amounted to "the blatant sexualisation of young children".

Devon County Council said there had not been any breach of safeguarding policies but there may be some changes for similar events held in the future.

Out There and Exeter Library described the Young Person's Day as a "celebration for LGBTQIA+ young people and friends", which provided "a welcoming space where young people can make new friends, get creative and take part in a mix of activities".

Critics were concerned items featured on a stall at the event were sexual in nature, while those involved said they were purely for sex education.

The council asked Libraries Unlimited to carry out an investigation into what happened at the event on 19 October 2025.

The council has now published correspondence between Libraries Unlimited and Devon County Council.

An email from Libraries Unlimited staff said several senior members of its team were at the event due to previous "threats of protest and disruption".

The email said: "Members of staff who were there with their children said that it was pleasant, friendly, welcoming and appropriate for a range of ages."

Emails from council officers said according to safeguarding guidance "educational resources that explain sexual health, consent, anatomy, or relationships support statutory personal, social, health, and economic education goals".

However, they added: "Sexually explicit or pornographic materials, however, do not meet educational objectives and may conflict with safeguarding and appropriateness standards."

In its report, Libraries Unlimited said the material on the stall in question "was for educational purposes and there was no item or imagery of a pornographic or explicit nature".

It said: "There were no items or promotions that would usually be associated with children that were then used in an inappropriate way to entice engagement or placed with adult only material."

The Libraries Unlimited investigation found "no specific safeguarding incidents have been found to have occurred at the event".

Councillors debated a motion by Independent councillor Ed Hill - prompted by the library event - which asked for an independent review of safeguarding policies at the council and all public service providers operating on behalf of the council.

Reform councillor Sue Davies said: "I truly don't understand why so many members here today cannot put aside party politics and publicly say they don't agree with this blatant sexualisation of young children."

She said the Queer Fest event "had many elements that should have raised the alarm bells".

Davies asked colleagues: "What is it that is going to make you stand up and say: 'We need to make a stand because we need to protect children?'"

She said the council's handling of the complaint "tells us clearly that you don't care about young children" and said it was "the responsibility of all adults, and not just councillors, to speak up in protecting the minds of young children".

Council leader Liberal Democrat Julian Brazil said it was not an issue the council took lightly and officers had spent a long time ensuring the right protections were in place.

He said: "Some people think we shouldn't be educating our children about particular things, but this is not a safeguarding issue.

"Perhaps what happened on that particular occasion wasn't as we would have hoped, and lessons have been learned.

"But children are our top priority, and I reject any accusation that we do not take safeguarding seriously."

A spokesperson for Libraries Unlimited said: "The investigation demonstrates that Libraries Unlimited's processes and procedures, including safeguarding and risk assessment were followed prior to and during the event."

The charity said at future events it would consider using signs to warn people about sensitive information or materials and would "continue to consider the location of child focused activity within events which are open to all ages".

The spokesperson said Libraries Unlimited would "continue to look to service the needs of the diverse groups and individuals in Exeter and beyond" and libraries were "safe spaces for everyone which foster respect and understanding".

Libraries Unlimited was "not aware of any specific plans by the organisers of Out There Queer Fest for events this year" but said it would "happily discuss anything with them if approached".

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