<
https://theconversation.com/a-sydney-council-has-banned-books-with-same-sex-parents-from-its-libraries-but-since-when-did-councils-ban-books-229610>
"Western Sydney’s Cumberland city council has banned all books depicting
same-sex parents in its eight public libraries, citing concerns over the
“safety” of children.
The ban was passed (six votes for and five against, while four councillors were
not present to vote) at a recent council meeting, and was spearheaded by
councillor and former Cumberland mayor Steve Christou. According to the ABC, a
process is underway to determine how many books will be banned.
As a queer woman and foster mother to 12 children over the past decade, as well
as a researcher on the connection between representation in children’s books
and child welfare, I was disheartened to learn Christou had argued books about
same-sex parenting “sexualised” children.
Presenting the council with a copy of the children’s picture book
Same-Sex
Parents by Holly Duhig, Christou said: “Our kids shouldn’t be sexualised […]
This community is a very religious community, a very family-orientated
community […]”
Christou said toddlers shouldn’t be “exposed” to same-sex content. His argument
epitomises a particular social fallacy that children need to be “taught” about
same-sex parented families at a specific, appropriate age.
This speaks to the idea of same-sex relationships as being unnatural or
strange, and therefore something that requires explanation and consent to
discuss. Conversely, heteronormative relationships are seen as natural and
appropriate, and therefore something children are exposed to from birth without
explanation.
This status quo does serious damage to children with same-sex parents as well
as those without. It questions and dismisses the legitimacy of same-sex
parented families, greatly limiting the extent children can see their families
represented (in picture books as well as other media) and sending a clear
message that their families aren’t “normal”. This, in turn, sends an equally
clear message to their peers regarding the validity of same-sex couples as
parents."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
