Media response – IDAHOBIT Day library event

Published on 31 March 2023

Approach from 3AW

3AW’s morning program approached Council about a drag storytime that is scheduled as part of IDAHOBIT Day in May.

Response

Monash Council is hosting a drag storytime as part of IDAHOBIT Day in May. Several Councils across Australia have successfully delivered this program, and I’m pleased Monash is joining them.

Drag storytime introduces children to diverse role models and encourages acceptance, love, and respect of people in our LGBTIQA+ community.

It’s a way to challenge the idea that we’re all supposed to look, act and behave in a certain way. It’s about accepting and respecting differences using imagination, play, dressing up and reading stories.

Age-appropriate books have been chosen that focus on different family units, kindness, love and the many diverse friends and family members that children may know.

We understand this is not for everyone and have scheduled it outside our regular library programs so that parents who bring their children have made a deliberate choice to attend. Clearly there are parents in our community who want this event, as it has booked out very quickly.

It is disappointing to hear negative comments and allegations being made by some people about an event that promotes inclusion. I heard Sam’s interview on your program earlier this week, and I am supportive Sam’s message of love, hope, education, and inclusion, I look forward to Sam joining us in May.

Issued: 30 March 2023

To: 3AW

Quoting: Mayor Tina Samardzija