An explicit LGBT book must be removed from every library and book store in Australia, pending a new classification decision. A judge found the Classifications Review Board ignored hundreds of submissions when classifying the fantasy comic Gender Queer as “unrestricted,” but recommended for readers over 15-years-old.
Christian campaigner Bernard Gaynor challenged this decision in the Federal Court after the book had been before the Review Board three times for its depictions of sexual experiences and gender exploration. This week, Justice Ian Jackman upheld Mr. Gaynor’s complaint, overturning the initial classification after finding it had been unlawfully decided.
The Australian Associated Press reports that out of 611 submissions sent to the board, only 35 supported an unrestricted rating while 576 wanted the book restricted or banned. The judge found the review board concluded that the submissions against the classification were overwhelmingly “broadly anti-LGBTQIA+,” while he concluded only 66 submissions fell into this category.
Justice Jackman wrote: “The majority of the Review Board whose reasons were published in the decision cannot have read and understood the public submissions in expressing the view that they did.” He added that the board should not have overlooked, ignored or misunderstood the public submissions.
Mr. Gaynor criticised members of the board who “(could not) identify a child in child abuse imagery” and called on Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland to have a good, hard look at her bureaucrats.
He told Vision Radio: “I think Australians are entitled to ask how much did the Communications Minister spend defending a paedophile fantasy comic? It’s quite disturbing that she spent public money on this. It would be in the tens of thousands of dollars, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. The minister is right now running a campaign for misinformation laws which will police speech. Her bureaucrats have been caught red-handed peddling disinformation in support of a paedophilia fantasy comic. Australians can have no confidence that these laws will be policed or used appropriately when the same bureaucrats are going to police them.”
Mr. Gaynor concluded: “One thing the court case has proven very clearly is that the vast, vast majority of Australians do not want these books in the country. What this means is that Australians who do get involved in the process to have books classified can have a say, and that the courts will make sure that the bureaucrats actually listen to what they have to say. It’s a wonderful decision and it’s something that all Australians should take great comfort in because it means they can have a say.”
Photo: Facebook – Bernard Gaynor
