Several children’s LGBT books removed from library shelves after focus group complained
The Sexual Orientation Ordinance Concern Group had at least 10 titles removed from public libraries in Hong Kong
By Steve Brown
Several LGBT themed children’s books have been removed from library shelves after a Hong Kong focus group complained.
The group – Sexual Orientation Ordinance Concern Group – is described as “parents, teachers and other Hong Kong citizens who are concerned about the Sex Discrimination Ordinance” and claims it’s not affiliated with any political or religious organisations.
The Sexual Discrimination Ordinance is a proposed legislation that would protect the LGBT+ community from discrimination and help equal rights.
According to their description, they say: “We refrain from any form of discrimination.
“However, we have studied the legislative proposals of foreign gay organisations and foreign related laws.
“We have found that if the Sex Discrimination Ordinance is to be enacted across the board, it will seriously affect the freedom of education in schools and force schools to implement ‘alternate brainwashing education’.”
The group plans to fight against trans issues, same-sex and “sexual liberation”.
And now 10 LGBT+ themed children’s books have been taking off library shelves after they successfully lobbied for their removal.
Some of the titles include ‘Molly’s Family’, ‘Introducing Teddy’, ‘Daddy and Papa and Me’, ‘Mommy, Mama and Me’, ‘The Family Book’, ‘The Boy in the Dress’ and ‘Milly, Molly and Different Dads’.
The group wrote on Facebook: “Over the past few months, we have conveyed to Home Affairs Bureau, through correspondence and public action, pour concern about the possession of homosexual and cross-gender children’s books in public libraries.”
Now, if anyone wants to read these titles, they are forced to ask library staff to access them rather than banning them altogether.
The Bureau wrote in its response: “The Development Conference considers that these books are neutral and do not render of promote homosexual and same-sex marriages.
“Based on the library’s commitment to uphold the principle of freedom of information, it will not use collections to promote specific beliefs or views and the ‘Collections Development Conference’ decided to continue to maintain these seven books as library collections.
“However, in order to ensure that children are properly guided by reading, the books are stored in closed shelves, and all branches have just completed the arrangements for holding closed shelves, that is, individual readers will be required to visit their staff.
“When parents choose suitable reading and reading for their children, they are free to choose whether they can read books and give proper guidance or interpretation to children.”