Kansas town axed librarians after confusing autism symbol for Pride. They're fighting back

Two fired librarians and two library patrons are suing a small Kansas town and its leaders who objected to rainbow displays during Pride Month, even though the colorful images weren't directly associated with LGBTQ pride.

Among the library displays were a rainbow infinity symbol representing neurodiversity and autism awareness and a colorful image with a disabled child, both of which city officials believed promoted an "LGBTQ agenda."

The lawsuit argues that Sterling library patrons "are entitled to a library that embraces a range of viewpoints, not just the viewpoints of those with an aversion to rainbow colors and a disdain for LGBTQ citizens."

The federal lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City accuses the library and city leaders of retaliation against the expression of First Amendment rights, viewpoint discrimination, violating due process rights, equal protection violations and violating the Kansas Open Records Act.

"As we were just made aware of this and do (not) comment on ongoing litigation, the City will not be providing a statement at this time," city manager Craig Crossette said in an email.

The lawsuit was filed by former librarians Kari Wheeler and Brandy Lancaster, as well as library patrons Samantha Corwin and Audra Asher, both of whom are neurodivergent. The defendants are the board of directors of the Sterling Free Public Library, the city of Sterling, Mayor Bob Boltz and library board members Michelle Miller and Lindsay Wilson.

Lawsuit: Library board leaders objected to LGBTQ books, rainbow displays

The library board on July 5 voted to fire Wheeler, who was the library director, and Lancaster, who was a library aide and assistant librarian, telling them only that they had lost the board's confidence. The vote came about two weeks after alleged anti-LGBTQ sentiment on the library board erupted over a display.

Lancaster created the display near the library entrance to go along with the national summer reading program theme of "All Together Now."

The display included the books "Emma & Mommy Talk to God," "The Color Purple," "Uncle Tom's Cabin," "Separate is Never Equal," "Wonder" and "To Kill a Mockingbird." It had a piece of artwork containing a quote from poet Maya Angelou about diversity with a disabled child in a wheelchair and a background of five colors. There was also a multicolored infinity symbol — a popular logo among autism rights advocates — with the slogan, "We all think differently."

But temporary summer library employee Ruth Splitter thought it had a different meaning. According to the lawsuit, Splitter told Lancaster on June 22 that she found the symbol offensive because she thought it represented gay pride and launched into an "anti-LGBT diatribe," even as she was told it was a neurodiversity and autism logo.

That same day, Splitter complained to Miller via text about gay pride, according to the lawsuit. Miller, who was vice chair of the board, assured Splitter that "we are meeting for the board meeting tomorrow and can address it if needed" and "we're not going to have that display up because I will rally the board members to call [Wheeler] to take it down."

Miller then texted Wheeler and said she had stopped by the library, even though she had not.

"I do not want any kind of rainbow display (aside from solely colors focused) especially in this month," Miller said. "We have a conservative town and as a library do not need to make political statements (see Target and Budlight as negative examples). I certainly do not want the library to promote LGBTQ agendas."

Miller later sent a follow-up text asking to let her know if she misunderstood the display and writing that "I am totally fine with diversity of skin color display, just not represented with rainbow colors."

The lawsuit states that the same day, city employee Jessi Dobson, who goes to church with Miller, texted Miller about removing both the autism awareness image and the artwork with the Maya Angelou quote and child in a wheelchair.

"This is not okay," Dobson said of a texted photo of the Angelou artwork. She said the autism logo made her "sick to her stomach."

Dobson also complained to Wheeler while at the library and said she would not bring her children to the library unless the display was taken down, the lawsuit states. Wheeler removed the display, intending for it to be temporary subject to instructions from the library board. The removal instead become permanent, and Wheeler lost her job.

Sterling library board accused of acting on anti-LGBTQ sentiment

The lawsuit alleges that the library board has had other instances of acting on anti-LGBTQ sentiment.

In spring 2023, a library patron suggested to Wheeler that the library should buy copies of all 19 books that have received the William Allen White Children’s Book Award, named after the famed Emporia newspaperman. She worked with a former classmate's employer who was interested in purchasing and donating the award-winning books.

But during a library board meeting, Miller objected to buying the book "Flight of the Puffin," which includes a non-binary teenage character. Wheeler told Miller it would be wrong to omit only one book from the set because of its viewpoint, would violate library policy and would be censorship. Miller and at least one other board member suggested that if the book were purchased, Wheeler should hide it in the librarian's desk.

The library board also voted against sponsoring Sterling's annual Fourth of July parade because there was a Pride float, the lawsuit alleges.

The plaintiffs also accuse the library board members of lacking training, including on the library's own policies, and of failing to create annual reports and budgets, both of which are required by state law. They also accuse the library board of violating state law by nominating and voting on its own membership, while the mayor and city commission acted as rubber stamps.

Wheeler and Lancaster are asking for a judgment covering lost wages and future wages and compensatory damages. The plaintiffs, who are library patrons, also ask for damages and unspecified injunctive relief.

Their Wichita-based attorney, Gaye Tibbets, also asks for injunctive relief and fees for the library's noncompliance with an open records request.

Jason Alatidd is a statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jason_Alatidd.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Lawsuit: Kansas librarians fired for autism symbols during Pride Month