Children’s Sex Book Nominated for Prime Minister’s Literary Awards
A graphic sex education book for young people has been short-listed in the young adult category for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards.
“Welcome to Sex!” by Melissa Kang and Yumi Stynes features graphic illustrations and descriptions of sexual activity as well as discussing various gender identities.
Judges who shortlisted the book refer to it as a “fearless, frank, and important resource for young people” that can be read by “all young adults.”
Its categories include guides on performing sexual acts, complete with graphic drawings.
Calls for PM to Drop Book From List
Former Australian Defence Force member, now-conservative blogger Bernard Gaynor, whose campaigning recently led to the removal of another graphic sex book from a regional Queensland library, said he believed Welcome to Sex was a dangerous book for children to read.
Conservative blogger Bernard Gaynor. Courtesy of Bernard Gaynor
“Welcome to Sex claims in its opening pages that it is written for children as young as 11 years of age. This highly disturbing book then encourages young readers to send nude selfies with their heads cropped out,” he told The Epoch Times.
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“No wonder parents all over Australia are rightly outraged. They are concerned that children who read this book will create their own child abuse material, resulting in life-long damage.
“Most Australians want child pornography to remain illegal and it is shocking that the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards has recognised a book that encourages children to traffic naked images of themselves.”
Gaynor called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to remove the book from the awards.
Books in Dispute
Welcome to Sex, which is widely available and sold in major retailers around the country, is one of several graphic and contentious children’s books that have caused controversy in recent months.
In May, a slim majority of Western Sydney councillors voted to remove the book “Same-Sex Parents” by Holly Duhig from Cumberland region libraries.
The ban was later overturned following complaints and protests.
The book includes graphic sexual images and descriptions of sexual acts—one of the most concerning being a cartoon depicting a young woman fantasizing over an ancient Greek style image of a man and a boy in a sexual pose.
Copies of the book remain in libraries across the state.
There have also been concerns raised around the work of Japanese manga artist Ken Akamatsu and Garth Ennis for their sexualised works which are often picked up by children and young people.
