Republican state senator, secretary of state compare Columbia library’s ‘Rainbow Story Time’ to sexual grooming
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
State Sen. Rick Brattin and Secretary of State Denny Hoskins said at a news conference that an LGBTQ+-themed event held last weekend at the Columbia Public Library included “grooming” of children.
The Republican politicians are pushing for an investigation into an event called “Rainbow Story Time” that was held Saturday at the library. The event was billed as a “queer-led” story time appropriate for families.
Hoskins has threatened the library’s funding, saying the event might involve material inappropriate for children.
Brattin, who sits on the Senate’s education committee, said the event sexualized children, emphasizing its acceptance of dressing in drag.
Hoskins said at the news conference that he plans to revisit the rule on funding for libraries because of the controversy. He called out one of the books from the story time, “Big Wig,” as “grooming” material because of its theme, which involves dressing in drag.
Hoskins said he would push for a law to outlaw these types of events.
“If it’s not illegal, then we’re going to be working with the legislature,” Hoskins said. “I had several legislators that have called out to me and said, ‘Hey, if this is not illegal, we want to file bills to ensure this is illegal in the future.'”
Hoskins added that his office has allocated over $1.2 million to the Daniel Boone Regional Library over the last four years.
“I’m going to revisit the rule on the and the formula allocation that goes to each public library to make sure that events like this aren’t funded with taxpayer dollars,” Hoskins said.
Brattin said the material at Rainbow Story Time was not “G-rated.”
Hoskins said he did not read either book, only excerpts through photographs of the books online.
“I did not, I think you had to pay for it, and most certainly I wasn’t going to pay for any of that crap,” Hoskins said.
Brattin did not mention if he read the books.
Under Chapter 573 of the Missouri Constitution, for material to be “pornographic for minors” it must meet all three requirements: cater sexual content to minors or, “cater or appeal to a prurient interest of minors,” clearly show nudity or sexual acts and lack “serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.”
While specific examples of illegal material was not show, Brattin warned the books were grooming children.
“It’s pushing a narrative of a movement that tends to want to grow, and that’s what we’re protecting, it’s making sure that not one lifestyle that is sexualizing children is being pushed upon them.” Brattin said. “You take toddlers and you say it’s okay for drag shows, that it’s okay for cross-dressing, then it’s okay for men to be in the locker room and in the bathroom with you, you dismantle the guard of which we’re supposed to be putting kids and protecting kids, so it’s absolutely a grooming”
The comments prompted a response from state Rep. Wick Thomas, D-Kansas City, a former librarian, who held a news conference Tuesday focused on public libraries, intellectual freedom and access to community programming.
Thomas said the threats from state officials were unfounded and emphasized that families chose to attend the story time.
“It was a lovely storytime attended by dozens of families who all chose to be there. These books being accessible to our communities is not what they said it was. I do not believe in government censorship, and all of these families chose to be there.”
Thomas also defended the role of librarians in choosing books for their communities.
“I think it’s also important that librarians are uniquely poised to be able to represent their community and buy books for their community that the community wants. Queer youth exist. I know because I was one of them. I came out at 16 in rural Missouri, actually, in the same district that Senator Brattin represents now, which is why it is especially infuriating that his. language and this political stunt that he’s using for his campaign is going to harm kids like me. Kids who grew up in rural Missouri who were just looking for community while legislators in the Missouri State capital made their lives harder.”
The Daniel Boone Regional Library said Tuesday that it received Brattin’s request for information Friday and is in the process of gathering the requested documents.
In a statement to ABC 17 News, the library said Rainbow Story Time was “in full compliance with all statutes and regulations.” The library said the program consisted of age-appropriate picture books, songs and activities suitable for toddlers and preschoolers, and that “Absolutely no materials prohibited by current laws were presented to any child in attendance.”
The library added its programs receive age-appropriate designations and that it maintains policies regarding parental control over a minor’s access to materials, as well as a process for parents or guardians to challenge those designations.
Thomas said the controversy could also have broader implications for public education and library funding.
“We do not need threats from government officials. We are one of the last in teacher pay. What we need is to be funding education, not threatening librarians. What they have received this week was threats of complete defunding and potentially registering librarians as sex offenders for having books like Rainbow Saurus,” Thomas said.
Rep. Kathy Steinhoff (D-Columbia) told ABC 17 News before the news conference that she has not heard complaints from Boone County residents on the event.
“I hate that these elected officials are trying to make this a political moment for them because our library is a fantastic example of serving our community and the needs and the interests of our community. And this programming is not of concern,” Steinhoff (D-Columbia) said. “It is nowhere near the allegations that they are making, it is not any infringement of our law, it is just good literacy and community engagement happening in our local library.”
Rep. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) posted on X Tuesday in opposition to Brattin.
“Brattin has been one of the biggest anti-trans, pro-gun nut legislators in Jefferson City and now he’s going after our Boone County public library,” Webber said in a post.
Brattin has been one of the biggest anti-trans, pro-gun nut legislators in Jefferson City and now he’s going after our Boone County public library. 1/3 https://t.co/G80ULq0qk0
— Stephen Webber 🇺🇸 (@s_webber) July 28, 2026
In a statement Tuesday, the Daniel Boone Regional Library told ABC 17 News they received Brattin’s Sunshine Law request and are currently collecting the requested documents.
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