Wednesday, 11 September 2024

Rainbow libraries toolkit

Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (18:37): (1140) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Equality. Minister, I love books and I love libraries, and many Victorians love them too, whether they borrow a picture book out for their children or whether it is to get the latest mystery novel. And like a mystery novel, earlier this month I saw the launch of the Public Libraries Victoria rainbow toolkit implemented under the guise of inclusivity, visibility and safety. It is a mystery because there seems to be no logical or rational reason to encourage sexuality and gender conversations to happen in, of all places, a library. Sexuality, gender and conversations around these topics are sensitive and deeply personal, particularly for people who are confused or might be going through puberty, mental health challenges or other ordeals. Those conversations are for families to have. They are for medical professionals to advise on. According to media reporting the rainbow toolkit includes advice on drag queen story time, books on gender diversity and avoiding gendered language. I am an openly gay man, and I call this out as inappropriate and absolute garbage.

This government does not own gay people. It does not own transgender people. It does not own the lesbian community or the gender-diverse community or anyone else included in the LBGTIQA+ acronym that they are doing absolutely no service to, because all the labels that they attach to those people are just that, labels. By grouping people together you attach characteristics to those groups and then seek favourable comments from an individual that purports to represent those groups, and then you claim that as some sort of endorsement of your views. Individuals can be gay. I am one. They can be lesbian or transgender. The gender-diverse community, as you label it, is diverse. Respect everyone. Recognise that we are individuals with diverse characteristics far beyond sexuality, gender identity and sexual preference. The worst thing about the rainbow toolkit is that the victims are none other than the most vulnerable in our community, young children, many of whom are primary school aged and attend public libraries. Families are up in arms about the right to have conversations in their own homes, in their own way and in their own culturally appropriate way. It is not up to the state via libraries to kickstart these conversations. Minister, end the rainbow toolkit and show some respect to the Victorian families that deserve it.