Protests Lead to Overturning Ban on Same-Sex Children’s Book
Protesters, both in support and against the decision, gathered outside Cumberland City Council as the debate unfolded.
A gathering of protesters took place outside a lengthy four-hour Cumberland City Council meeting where a controversial decision to ban same-sex parenting books from local libraries was ultimately reversed.
During the meeting on May 1, a slim majority of councillors from western Sydney, led by Granville Ward representative Steve Christou, voted to prohibit the book “Same-Sex Parents” by Holly Duhig from Cumberland’s libraries.
Councillor Christou mentioned that the book had been placed in the toddler section, prompting complaints from concerned parents. This move prompted New South Wales Arts Minister John Graham to threaten withdrawing funding from the library service.
However, during a subsequent meeting to discuss the ban, held as part of the council’s general meeting, the decision was overturned.
Protesters against the ban displayed rainbow flags, held signs declaring “hate is not a family value,” and chanted slogans like “we’re here, we’re queer.”
Conversely, protesters advocating for the book ban also gathered outside the council chambers. Earlier, Councillor Christou had urged people through a video to peacefully express their concerns at the meeting.
Several councillors, including some who had initially supported the ban, had a change of heart, while absentee councillors from the previous vote also participated this time.
Initially, some councillors were in favor of the ban while others opposed it. However, on the night of the meeting, the majority voted to reinstate the book in the libraries, except for a few who maintained their original stance.
He mentioned working with LGBT groups and emphasized his respect for different beliefs.
Although attempts were made by Mr. Christou and Mr. Garrad to relocate the book to the adult section of the library, their efforts were unsuccessful.
Mr. Christou justified the initial decision to ban the book based on “family and religious values” that resonated with the Cumberland community.
The Book Stirring the Debate
The book embroiled in the controversy, now reinstated in the Cumberland library’s junior non-fiction section, showcases images of both heterosexual and homosexual families, focusing more on the latter.
The cover displays two men and a boy, along with two women and a girl illustration.
It delves into different ways of forming families for same-sex parents through biological means or adoption. It also touches on surrogacy and challenges commonly associated with same-sex parenting, like bullying and disapproving family members.
