County Judge Orders Then Removes Transgender Literature Display, Sparks Debate

Val Verde County Judge Lewis Owens stirred a local controversy last week when he ordered the removal of a bookshelf display at the Val Verde County Library that commemorated the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Owens first issued the removal order on Tuesday November 18 2025. He reversed that decision the following day and allowed the display to be restored, but by Saturday he ordered the books taken down again and the display disassembled.

The display had featured books and materials related to transgender lives and the international observance honoring trans people murdered because of hatred and violence. Local LGBTQ advocates in Del Rio said the display was intended to provide visibility and remembrance in a city with few dedicated spaces for queer and trans residents.

Members of the local group Del Rio SAFE met on Wednesday to consider legal steps. At that meeting the group discussed contacting the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to seek support for the autonomy of public library staff. Advocates were also encouraged by former Del Rio mayor Bruno Lozano to attend Val Verde County commissioner court meetings and City of Del Rio council meetings to voice concerns about what they saw as an overreach of authority.

A chance encounter on Friday outside the library shifted the narrative for some involved. While Del Rio News Network was interviewing a leading DR SAFE member about response plans, Judge Owens arrived and spoke with the advocate, who had not previously met the judge. Owens told the advocate that his decision to remove the display had involved consultation with and verification from Val Verde County attorney David Martinez. Owens said the actions of the office of Val Verde County Judge ultimately were legal and that he planned to share documentation of that legal review with the advocate.

That development prompted the DR SAFE member to acknowledge that it “changes the narrative” and to say the group would reassess next steps in light of the legal information. The prospect of legal review and documentation has temporarily altered plans for immediate litigation or formal complaint.

Owens also described receiving hostile responses from residents opposed to the display, saying he “had never seen such hatred”, including threats of violence. In a social media post linked by local outlets he wrote “The amount of hatred on this topic is unbelievable, and I hope at some point we become better than what we are.” Owens has stated he personally does not believe that government buildings should encourage people to be transgender.

For residents of Del Rio and Val Verde County the dispute raises multiple local questions. It touches on library staff discretion, the role of elected officials in public institutions, the reach of the First Amendment regarding viewpoint discrimination, and the safety and visibility of LGBTQ community members in a largely rural and politically conservative region. Del Rio SAFE and county officials now face a period of negotiation and review as advocates seek documentation and weigh whether to pursue formal legal action.