ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. — The gender-identity debate brought out dozens of people on both sides of the issue to a St. Charles County library Friday morning after a mom sent a letter of complaint to library officials about a staff worker.
The issue was about the staff worker’s gender-identity, according to Lori Beth Crawford, chief communications officer for the library.
Crawford said she could not comment on the details of the situation because “it’s a staff issue.”
A meeting between the mom and a library administrator was supposed to take place Friday morning, but the meeting was canceled after “it became a public thing,” according to Crawford.
The mom posted her experience on social media, encouraging others to share her information and to come to the library where the meeting was supposed to be held. The spread on social media led to people on both sides of the gender-identity issue coming to the library.
St. Louis area resident Sandy T. came to the library in support of the mom.
“I believe in what she’s doing,” Sandy said. “I’m sorry that the administrator would not meet with her just because people have shown up. It’s sad.”
She said the mom had gone to the library to register her preschool children and the staff worker who was helping them “was dressed in drag.”
The mother’s Facebook post mentioned the male librarian was wearing colorful makeup, nail polish and earrings.
“She doesn’t go along with that,” Sandy said. “If she wants to teach her children about those things, that’s her (business), but it doesn’t need to be pushed in their face in the library. And I support that.”
The mother’s Facebook post says the library staffer was working the children’s desk during the time she was there with her son.
“This is absolutely unacceptable and inappropriate behavior for children. I DO NOT consent to MY tax dollars being used on individuals forcing their sexuality on my kids or ANY kids for that matter,” the Facebook post states.
St. Charles area resident Grayson Jostes came to the library in support of the worker.
“I’m here to support the coworker who is trying to be themselves even though some people think it’s offensive and hateful, but it’s who we are,” Jostes said.
“We’re a butterfly. We’re once a caterpillar in a cocoon and want to spread our wings with love and acceptance. And that’s what America stands for.”
Jostes said the hope is for the worker to still have their job at the library.
“Right now in America, there’s a lot of book banning, things on LGBTQ topics, Black Americans, Asian Americans, immigration, women’s rights and this is not what America stands for. We should be open to new interpretations of life,” Jostes said.
The mom’s Facebook post says that she is not asking for the library worker to be fired.
“All I am asking is that ALL staff members have an appropriate and NEUTRAL dress code for everyone and not push any kind of sexual ‘identity’ on the public, especially children,” the Facebook post states.
Spectrum News asked the mother for comment Friday morning but she declined to comment, and thanked those supporting her.