LGB Alliance Australia is profoundly shocked by the recent decision of Cumberland City Council to ban books depicting same-sex parenting from its library collections. This move starkly contradicts the principles outlined in the Cumberland Library Strategy 2024-2027, which emphasises the importance of providing free and equitable access to diverse and inclusive library services, collections, and programmes, but also reveals a troubling conflation of unrelated issues.

Councillor Steve Christou has inappropriately linked the representation of same-sex parents in children's books with entirely separate and unrelated matters such as staff leave for a "sex change" and drag queen story times. These issues are completely unrelated and distinct and should not be used to justify the censorship of LGB families in literature.

The exclusion of these books is particularly damaging to the LGB individuals and families in Cumberland, who exist and contribute to the community. By removing literature that reflects their lives, the council not only undermines its commitment to progression but also isolates and marginalises LGB residents. We see it as outright homophobia.

This decision sends a harmful message that their families are less valid and unwelcome in public spaces. We have written to the council expressing our strong discontent and urging them to realign their actions with their stated strategy, ensuring that all families, regardless of their composition, are represented and valued within their library services.

On behalf of our members in Western Sydney, we have written to the council expressing our strong discontent and urging them to realign their actions with their stated strategy, ensuring that LGB families, regardless of their composition, are represented and valued within their library services.