Today, in advance of a potential Oklahoma visit this week from Chaya Raichik, who runs the anti-2SLGBTQ+ hate account “LibsOfTikTok,” and who remains on Oklahoma’s statewide library advisory board, despite not living there — Oklahomans are urging Raichik to “stay out of our state.” Oklahoma parents and allies of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive youth, in addition to Oklahoma groups representing tens of thousands of Oklahomans, signed an open letter explaining the harms of Raichik’s words and actions and calling for Raichik to resign from her position on the board. In addition to hundreds of individual parents, the letter was signed by Matriarch, Freedom Oklahoma, Free Mom Hugs Oklahoma Chapter, and the Humans Rights Campaign, which has more than 50,000 Oklahoma supporters and members. Raichik’s visit and a planned demonstration by the dwindling hate group Westboro Baptist Church, would come as the community marks one month since the death of Nex Benedict (he/they), a two-spirit, nonbinary teenager who suffered from months of anti-2SLGBTQ+ bullying before being brutally beaten in their high school bathroom and dying a day later.

“We would like to express our anger and resentment at your decision to target young people in Oklahoma — our state, our home — as well as your dangerous obsession with spreading hate against the 2SLGBTQ+ community and youth,” the letter states. “Your attempt to strongarm local communities into policies that create a climate of hate, fear and violence undermines the rights and dignity of Oklahomans and our communities.”

Raichik’s account uses inflammatory rhetoric to spread vile, ignorant narratives about the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and trans people in particular–rhetoric that fuels offline violence. Media Matters has documented 28 institutions, events, and individuals who reported threats after being targeted by LibsofTikTok, and 8 who reported harassment — a total of at least 36 instances of threats or harassment directly tied to Raichik. Her attacks have directly affected Oklahoma schools, including:

• In 2022, Raichik harassed an Owasso teacher by posting that he affirmed 2SLGBTQ+ students, which led to his resignation. Nex Benedict’s mother stated that her child was upset when learning about the harassment that the teacher had faced as a result of Raichik’s post because it “did not allow students to be themselves.”

• Last year, Raichik doxxed an elementary school librarian in Tulsa, leading to six consecutive days of bomb threats against the school.

“You, and any organization that seeks to bring hate into Oklahoma, are not welcome in our state or in positions of authority and influence here,” the letter concludes. “And we implore you to reflect on the impact of your actions. Our state has just lost one child, and your deliberately cruel attempts to dehumanize transgender people for clicks and likes created a hostile environment in which tragedy felt inevitable. Stay away from our children and stay out of our state.”

The Full Open Letter is below:

An Open Letter to Ms. Raichik

We are writing to you as parents and Oklahomans. Our state and our youth have already been harmed by your online presence, and we are deeply alarmed by your recent suggestion that you will visit our state in person (apparently, for only the second time). We feel compelled to address the impact of your words and actions on our children and our families, and let you know you are not welcome in our state or near our children.

First and foremost, we would like to express our anger and resentment at your decision to target young people in Oklahoma — our state, our home — as well as your dangerous obsession with spreading hate against the 2SLGBTQ+ community and youth. Your attempt to strongarm local communities into policies that create a climate of hate, fear and violence undermines the rights and dignity of Oklahomans and our communities.

As parents, we see firsthand the challenges, bigotry, and discrimination too many children face on a daily basis. And tragically, now we have seen violence. Whether or not you decide to make your way to Oklahoma, we know that the hostility you peddle is traveling to us. The Westboro Baptist Church, an anti-2SLGBTQ+, Southern Poverty Law Center-designated hate group, is protesting outside Owasso schools this week, bringing the bigoted cruelty you share so easily online to our school's front doors.

We have to ask why you choose to stoke division and prejudice?

Your presence on our Education Department’s Library Media Advisory Committee is equally concerning. By promoting discriminatory ideologies and actively opposing the inclusion of books and programming that foster acceptance and inclusivity, you are undermining the integrity of libraries as safe and accessible spaces for all people. We will not allow you to take that away from our children.

We demand that you resign from your position on the Committee immediately. You, and any organization that seeks to bring hate into Oklahoma, are not welcome in our state or in positions of authority and influence here. And we implore you to reflect on the impact of your actions. Our state has just lost one child, and your deliberately cruel attempts to dehumanize transgender people for clicks and likes created a hostile environment in which tragedy felt inevitable. Stay away from our children and stay out of our state.

Signed,

Oklahoma Parents and Allies of Two-Spirit, Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender-Expansive Youth

Matriarch

Freedom Oklahoma

Free Mom Hugs Oklahoma Chapter

Human Rights Campaign’s Oklahoma Supporters and Members