A Sydney council has voted to place a blanket ban on same-sex parenting books from local libraries in a move the New South Wales government warns could be a breach of the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act.
At a meeting last week, Cumberland city council in western Sydney voted on a new strategy for its eight council-run libraries.
The amendment, put forward by the former mayor and current councillor Steve Christou, proposed that the council take “immediate action” to “rid” same-sex parents books and materials in its library service.
During the meeting, Christou brandished a book he alleged had received “really disturbing” constituent complaints, saying parents were “distraught” to see the book, Same-Sex Parents by Holly Duhig, displayed on a shelf in the children’s section of the library.
The book, originally published in the UK, explores the experience of having two mums or two dads and features two men and a young child on the front cover.
Six councillors voted in favour of the amendment and five voted against, while four councillors were not present to vote.
“We’re going to make it clear tonight that … these kind of books, same-sex parents books, don’t find their way to our kids,” Christou said during debate. “Our kids shouldn’t be sexualised.
“This community is a very religious community, a very family-orientated community.
“They don’t want such controversial issues going against their beliefs indoctrinated to their libraries. This is not Marrickville or Newtown, this is Cumberland city council.”
Christou said toddlers shouldn’t be “exposed” to same-sex content and that the proposed amendment was “for the protection and safety of our children”.
“Hands off our kids,” he repeated.
More than half of the population represented by the Cumberland city council were born overseas. About 12.7% of its population has Chinese ancestry, while 13.3% are Lebanese.
Christou told Guardian Australia the motion was not targeted at the LGBTQ+ community but towards any books that promoted “sexualisation”.
Asked what aspects of the book in question were sexualised, he said parents had complained about the book being on the shelf, reiterating that “no form” of sexualisation should be accepted.
“We are a deeply religious community with deep family values,” he said. “I’m only representing the wishes of my community.”
The Auburn MP Lynda Voltz expressed concern over the resolution and asked the NSW arts minister, John Graham, to look at the matter.
“I am greatly concerned at the decision of Cumberland council and believe that it may possibly risk breaching the guidelines for funding of libraries and may also be in breach of the Anti-Discrimination Act,” she said.
“The overwhelming majority of the people in Auburn will tell you that everyone is welcome and we pride ourselves on being a peaceful and friendly community.”
Minister accuses council of censorship
Graham accused the council of engaging in censorship.
“When civilisations turn to burning books or banning books it is a very bad sign. That is equally true for local councils,” he said.
“It is up to readers to choose which book to take off the shelf. It should not be up to local councillors to make that choice for them or engage in censorship.”
He said the decision could impact the library’s ability to receive funding from the government.
The mayor, Lisa Lake, opposed the motion and said she was “appalled and saddened” by the result.
Lake said the book had been in the library since 2019 and was “nothing new”.
“We work really hard at council to foster a spirit of inclusion and talk about everybody feeling welcome,” she said.
“As long as parents are loving families, that’s what’s important.”
Councillor Diane Colman, who also opposed the motion, told Guardian Australia it wasn’t the body’s place to “police” accessibility to books.
“It’s problematic on so many levels,” she said.
“Cumberland city council’s motto is ‘welcome, belong, succeed’ – that means everyone is welcome, everyone belongs.
“Bans like this indicate some people believe that isn’t the case.”
Colman said the “whole premise” of a public library was to provide individuals with equitable rights to information – not to censor it.
A spokesperson for Cumberland city council said it had commenced the process of reviewing its collection to determine which titles “would need to be considered for removal” from library services.
“Council welcomes everyone to our local government area and our libraries, irrespective of the materials available in our library collections,” they said.
Equality Australia’s legal director Ghassan Kassisieh said “providing the children of same-sex couples with books that reflect their everyday lives is part of ensuring public libraries are inclusive and welcoming places for everyone”.
“This book is part of an age-appropriate series about different types of families, and the attempt to erase local families off library shelves sinks well below the standard that should be set by our elected representatives,” Kassisieh said.
“If you don’t want to borrow the book, you don’t have to – but don’t deny others the chance to access books that reflect modern family life in Australia in 2024.”
Kassisieh said if the move wasn’t unlawful under the NSW anti-discrimination act, it “certainly should be”.
Rainbow Families, an advocacy group for LGBTQ+ families in Australia, spoke with the anti-discrimination board on Tuesday to try to get the ban reversed.
Its executive officer, Ashley Scott, said the board was considering what actions it could take in response.
“We’re very disappointed by the decision … in Australia our families are very diverse and that’s something that should be celebrated,” he said.
Scott said he had witnessed an increase in hate speech and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in the past 12 months, which had been distressing for families.
