Victorian MP Believes Taxpayers Should Not Fund ‘Rainbow Toolkits’
The Victorian government has announced its $14,000 Rainbow Toolkit, encouraging librarians to ask primary school-aged children their pronouns.
Libertarian MP David Limbrick has expressed concerns about the cost to taxpayers of the program, aimed at promoting LGBT activities in libraries.
Despite financial challenges faced by Victoria, $14,020 (USD $9,479) will be allocated for the Toolkit.
Part of the Toolkit includes encouraging librarians to ask children as young as five about their preferred pronouns.
The Toolkit offers guidance for creating “inclusive” library events, making spaces more LGBT-friendly, and featuring relevant books.
Limbrick, besides citing the cost, voiced concerns about the level of ideology in the program that may not be suitable for children.
“Parents should have the right to decide how to raise their children, and interference from the government in personal matters should be minimized,” Limbrick told The Epoch Times.
Limbrick emphasized the importance of libraries being spaces for learning rather than promoting ideologies and urged more community involvement in local governance.
Labor Party Focuses on Inclusion
The adoption of the Rainbow Libraries Toolkit was under Labor Premier Jacinta Allan and launched on Wear It Purple Day to promote LGBT inclusion.
Minister for Equality Harriet Shing, alongside Public Libraries Victoria CEO Angela Savage, inaugurated the toolkit at the Springvale Community Hub and Library.
The Victorian government explained that the implementation of the toolkit was in response to the need for better information and training following increased discrimination against LGBT communities and events like drag story times.
Drag story times, featuring men in drag reading stories, have been conducted in libraries across Australia.
The Allan government funded the program through the Public Libraries Funding Program 2023-2024.
