ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. — Tensions were high Tuesday night in a packed room during a St. Charles City-County Library board meeting where dozens of people on both sides of the issue continued the debate over a library worker’s attire.

Hundreds of community members attended and 53 people spoke during the public comment section of the meeting, including the librarian’s partner and the concerned mother who brought the issue to light.

“My partner is having to do something that no person on this Earth should have to do – having to fight for their mere right to exist. It’s been incredibly painful to watch the person I love go through this, but even when up against all of these obstacles, they’ve handled every hurdle with such grace,” Sadie Anderson said.

In May, St. Charles County mother Rachel Homolak sent a letter of complaint to library officials and expressed her outrage on social media about how the library worker was dressed.  

Homolak’s Facebook post mentioned that the male employee was wearing colorful makeup, nail polish and earrings. During the time she was at the library with her son, the employee was working the children’s desk.

“Do you think it’s appropriate for female employees to wear miniskirts, leather corsets, fishnets, four-inch stilettos, gaudy hot pink makeup? I mean this is attire that really is only publicly tolerated in adult settings such as night clubs, strip joints, etcetera,” she said.

Over the course of three hours Tuesday night, speakers commented either in favor or in opposition of the worker’s attire, transgender and gender-identity, and other related issues, including books that have become controversial. 

Many advocated for dress codes and/or uniforms to be enforced. Some shared fond library memories, talked about the importance and value of libraries, while others quoted the Bible, historical figures and mentioned historical Supreme Court cases.

Anderson added if people have judged her partner without getting to know them, it is their loss.

“I am not up here to protect them because they’re stronger than even they know. I’m not up here to defend their character because anyone who has even taken a second to get to know them knows what a vibrant, caring soul they are,” Anderson said.  

Anderson asked a series of rhetorical questions about privilege and the permissions of wearing women and men’s clothing. 

“I am wearing makeup and traditionally feminine clothing, just as they often do. What gives me the right to dress this way,” Anderson said. 

“Why does the pigment upon my eyes and the fabric upon my skin not offend you? What gives me the privilege to look this way? I did not have to ask anyone’s permission and neither do they.”

Anderson ended by saying, “My partner, myself, and every single person in this room should be able to express themselves and feel comfortable in the clothing they choose and wear it without fear of ridicule. It is as simple as that.”

Homolak stated that her tax dollars pay for the library and not for a guy to dress in “light pink drag” in the children’s section of the library.

“Why is it magically acceptable at the library when a man dresses like this? Well, I'll tell you the reason. The reason is you want to push sex on children.”

Homolak said whether it is jewelry, makeup or clothes, what the librarian wears “represents sexuality.”

“You are allowing the sexualization of children, and I’m not going to tolerate it and I’m not going to pay for it either,” she said.

Homolak said St. Charles is “against this blatant, open sexual abuse towards children.” She claimed that other library employees also are “opposed to this nonsense” because they have reached out to her.

“How dare you put them in a position like this and how dare you force them to play along with sick perverted, sexual fantasies,” Homolak said. Gasps and shouting came from the audience after she spoke those words. Homolak continued to say, “Stop pushing your sexual agenda on everyone targeting our children.”

Harry Harris spoke in favor of the library worker and mentioned that he was angry the issue was being debated.

“It’s really disturbing that it’s all over one person dressing a certain way,” he said. “And I keep hearing tonight about kids being confused. My son watches Paw Patrol, he has yet to expect a dog to talk back to him.”

Harris’ comment was followed by laughter and applause. He said someone seeing a different style of clothing than they are used to seeing “doesn’t necessarily make them confused.”

“As a parent, I’ve got 99 problems and a librarian has not been one of them. We love the library, never had a problem with it,” he said. “I’m raising my kid to understand there are people different than him, there are differences in our world and to mind his own business.”

Heather Vogt said the discussion is about dressing professionally in the workplace and not about taking sides.

“I am not calling for anyone to be fired and I’m certainly not questioning their right to exist in society. This isn’t about that. I am not discriminating here,” she said. “As adults, we all know that our attire needs to be appropriate for the situation.”

Vogt said working for a company is not the time to be expressive.

“We’re representing who we work for and our focus should be on serving our clients and customers, not on ourselves,” she said. 

“If you want to wear a bikini, feel free to do so at the beach or the pool. You have every right to swim in your bikini. You do not have the right to wear that same bikini while working at the library because it’s inappropriate for a professional setting.”

She mentioned other government employees who are required to either wear uniforms or wear professional attire, including park rangers, city hall workers, and lifeguards.

“I noticed that every one of the board members here is dressed professionally. No one’s trying to draw attention to themselves, or make it all about them,” Vogt said. 

“When you dress professionally, you show respect for your position, for your fellow coworkers and for the community that you serve.”

Homolak previously tried to meet with library officials, however, Spectrum News was told that the meeting was canceled after people on both sides of the issue showed up. 

The library’s communications chief has previously declined to comment with Spectrum News because the issue involves a staff member.

There was no item on Tuesday’s library board meeting agenda regarding the issue.