John Wahl says that he stands with Trump on gender ideology:

July 16, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL – Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) Board Chairman John Wahl announced that he has issued a formal letter to public library directors across the state. In the letter he informed them that the APLS Board will stand behind President Trump's executive order banning the use of federal funds to promote gender ideology.

In the letter, Wahl notified local libraries that, in order to remain eligible for federal grants administered by APLS, they must bring their operations into full compliance with the executive order. The letter also directed libraries to review their collections, programming, and policies to ensure that no federal dollars are being used to advance "gender ideology" in any form.

"As Chairman of the Alabama Public Library Service, I stand firmly behind President Trump's executive order protecting children from radical gender ideology and restoring biological truth," said Chairman Wahl. "The APLS Board will make sure that these new grant requirements are being followed here in Alabama. This letter makes it clear that federal taxpayer dollars cannot be used to push gender ideology on our children. Libraries should be places of learning, not platforms for social agendas."

President Donald J. Trump's executive order, titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government," mandates that no federal funds be used to promote gender ideology. APLS, as the distributing agency for library-related federal grants in Alabama, is charged with upholding this responsibility. Wahl's letter encourages immediate action to stay in compliance for the upcoming fiscal year.

"Sexuality and gender identity are deeply personal and complex topics and should be approached with care, respect, and parental involvement," Wahl continued. "Taxpayer dollars should never be used to push controversial social ideologies on our youth-especially without parental consent. Alabama libraries should be places where families feel safe, respected, and welcome. That starts with keeping divisive political agendas out of collections dedicated to children."

Wahl is also the Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party and is widely discussed as a possible candidate for Alabama Lieutenant Governor.