Support Rainbow Toolkits in Libraries

Last week in Parliament we debated a LNP proposal to provide less support to libraries and to offer fewer inclusive spaces and services for families. 

Wouldn’t it make much more sense to be doing more to make sure that queer and gender diverse young people feel safe and welcome everywhere in our community?

Libraries are great places and librarians have been doing great work.

The rainbow toolkit came about because library staff were increasingly under attack.

People were protesting their entirely age appropriate, drag story times. Libraries were receiving hate calls and harassment.

They needed these tools to deal with this behaviour and to make sure that they were making libraries welcoming to LGBTQIA+ young people and their families. 

We should all wholeheartedly support this toolkit to further assist them in this work.

And there’s so often mention of the ‘terrifying pronouns‘.

In case there’s confusion about what these are-  I, she, him, you.

I’m wondering which of these we need to prevent library staff from using when talking to young people?

Asking a young person, or any person actually, how they’d like to be referred to is entirely reasonable and respectful.

Providing books to children that reflect all types of families, benefits all children.

Offering events and celebrations at libraries enriches our whole communities. 

2 in 3 LGBTQIA+ young people still experience abuse for being who they are.

So displaying rainbow flags, running queer family friendly events, respecting diverse gender identities are vitally important in our state.

And libraries do and should play a pivotal role in providing these inclusive events and safe spaces for everyone.

Let’s make our community one that’s more inclusive, let’s celebrate each other for who we are.