Report: Missouri Republicans Threaten Library Funding Over ‘Rainbow Story Time’

From the Missouri Independent:

Missouri Republican officials threatened Tuesday to cut state funding for Columbia’s public library after staff held a reading of LGBTQ+ children’s books last week.

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins and state Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican running for Congress in Missouri’s 5th congressional district, held a joint press conference Tuesday to discuss their investigation into the Daniel Boone Regional Library. The library’s Columbia branch hosted a “rainbow story time” Saturday for toddlers and preschoolers.

The event featured two picture books: “Rainbowsaurus,” which follows a family in search of a rainbow dinosaur, and “Big Wig,” which tells the story of a young child who dresses up in drag and wins a costume contest. The event was free and open to the public.

Hoskins, who told reporters he had looked up the books but not read them, said he will use his powers over the Missouri State Library to affect which grants go to regional libraries that shelve books he deems inappropriate.

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Despite the warnings and mounting attention, the library continued with the story time as planned. On Saturday, Columbia residents showed up to support the decision, writing affirming messages on the sidewalk in front of the library proclaiming “love is love” with hearts and peace signs.

[Robin] Westphal [the library’s executive director] said Saturday was the first time the library held a story time geared toward families with LGBTQ+ parents, but it had previously offered LGBTQ+ programming without garnering such public concern.

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