This was published 3 months ago
Editorial
Cumberland Council should reverse its same-sex library book ban
When a western Sydney council decided this month to ban same-sex education books from its libraries, the decision quickly became a story that was better read than some well-thumbed library books. It rapidly developed into a matter of national debate around censorship and discrimination, with state ministers jumping in to declare their opposition.
But on Wednesday evening, there is an opportunity to rewrite the ending to this shameful story, which has placed Cumberland Council under a level of scrutiny it could never have envisaged.
As indicated in the minutes of what was to have been a fairly routine council meeting on May 1, item C05/24-506 was a motion supported by two councillors for the “Adoption of Library Strategy 2024-2027”. There were 12 councillors in attendance.
Councillor Steve Christou says he has not read the book he wants to ban from council libraries.
But then came an unexpected amendment from two independent councillors, Steve Christou and Paul Garrard, agreeing to the motion, but subject to the following: “That council take immediate action to rid same-sex parents books/materials in council’s library service.“
Christou held up a copy of Same-Sex Parents and, now famously, declared: “This is not Marrickville or Newtown. This is Cumberland City Council, and we need to respect the wishes of our residents.” The amendment was carried six to five. Christou admitted afterwards during a media storm that he had not even read the book.
Both Premier Chris Minns and Arts Minister John Graham spoke out against the decision. Graham pointed out the resolution contravened the Library Council of NSW Guideline on Freedom of Access to Information. He also had a timely reminder for council that the value of its annual subsidy stands at $743,130. That’s a lot of new library books.
Now, there is a new motion supported by four councillors to alter or rescind the original decision. Among them is Sabrin Farooqui, “a passionate advocate for human rights, social justice and cultural diversity”. She was overseas at the time of the previous vote. “I have focused on education all my life and cannot support this ban,” she says. “Hopefully, we can reverse it on Wednesday.”
Also pushing for the motion to be rescinded is Diane Colman, a university lecturer “passionate about ensuring equality for all Cumberland residents” who spoke against the original motion. She says council’s motto is “Welcome, Belong, Succeed” and that the original motion has damaged council. “We are one of the most multicultural council areas in Australia,” she said.
Herald readers were also appalled. An estimated 99 per cent of our many, many readers who contacted us disagreed with the amendment.
In the many words written analysing the decision, we were reminded of the censorship of titles in the Victorian era which today are considered innocuous, and of past book-burning practices in Nazi Germany. Censorship, in the main, has moved on.
In terms of injustice against the gay community, there is a salient example that Cumberland councillors who supported the amendment might do well to digest before Wednesday.
In a front-page story in the Herald on Saturday, journalist Andrew Hornery told the story of Terry Goulden, who was arrested at the age of 20 in 1965. He was taken into custody for an unfulfilled act of “indecency” incited by a man who turned out to be an undercover police officer. Goulden suggested next month’s 40th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in NSW presented an opportunity for the government to say sorry.
Minns said he had decided to do exactly that and he will issue a formal apology in parliament to coincide with the anniversary. “I know that to many, this apology will not remedy discrimination of the past, but I hope that it brings some semblance of closure to those who were unfairly targeted by laws of the day that criminalised gay and lesbian people for being who they are,” he said.
This decision by Minns to act shows how community sentiment towards members of the LGBTQ community has clearly moved on. The opportunity is now there for Cumberland Council to also move on and remedy this unfair and shameful decision. As so many have pointed out, if you do not like the content of a book, no one is forcing you to read it. But in today’s Sydney, it is important our libraries reflect the diversity of our great city.
The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.