Wick Thomas (they/them)

Missouri State Representative Wick Thomas has forcefully defended LGBTQ+ families and public libraries after Republican officials threatened to strip funding from the Daniel Boone Regional Library and suggested librarians could face criminal consequences for hosting a ‘Rainbow Story Time' event. Speaking at the Missouri House of Representatives for a 28 July press conference, Thomas, Missouri's only out nonbinary state legislator and a former librarian, said the campaign against the library was more than a political disagreement. "Queer youth exist. I know, because I was one of them," they said, recalling coming out at 16 while growing up in rural Missouri. Thomas accused state officials of using LGBTQ+ people as a political talking point, warning that the rhetoric would harm young queer people searching for acceptance and community, just as it had affected them growing up. Thomas also criticised threats made by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey's office and Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, who have suggested the library could lose public funding or even face criminal penalties for hosting the family-friendly event. "We need funding for education, not threats against librarians," Thomas said, noting that Missouri already ranks near the bottom nationally for teacher pay. They added that librarians were now being threatened with losing funding and even being registered as s*x offenders simply for making children's books such as ‘Rainbowsaurus' available. Responding to comments made earlier that day in a press conference held by Hoskins and Republican State Senator Rick Brattin, the latter of whom acknowledged he had not read the books in question, Thomas held up a copy of ‘Rainbowsaurus' and read it aloud to reporters. The story featured little more than playful animal sounds and a friendly rainbow dinosaur. After finishing, Thomas closed the book and said, "Wasn't that nice? This is what the Attorney General and the Secretary of State are threatening libraries about." The remarks come after the Daniel Boone Regional Library refused to cancel its 25 July ‘Rainbow Story Time' event despite mounting political pressure and a public letter from Hoskins' office threatening criminal penalties against those “furnishing any material pornographic to minors.” Erin In The Morning reported via Substack that around 150 people attended the event, with supporters arguing it offered an inclusive space for LGBTQ+ families and allies. Thomas warned that the effort to portray LGBTQ+-inclusive books as inappropriate is part of a broader campaign to censor queer representation and intimidate public institutions. "This isn't isolated to Missouri," they said in an interview with Erin In The Morning shortly after their press conference. "It doesn't end here if we don't stop it here."