A Parent's Guide to Preventing Homosexuality: Hong Kong library under fire for 'anti-gay propaganda'
Activists for sexual minorities say Central Library should consider putting a warning on book it carries on 'preventing homosexuality' in children
A gay rights group has suggested a disclaimer may be needed for a library book that openly encourages parents to "prevent" homosexuality in their children.
Available in the Central Library's adult lending section, A Parent's Guide to Preventing Homosexuality is co-authored by controversial American psychologist Joseph Nicolosi, who practises gay conversion therapy.
The book uses real-life anecdotes of parenting experiences to illustrate what the author claims is a parent's role in the child's sexuality.
Gay rights activist Betty Grisoni, co-founder of Hong Kong's largest lesbian organisation Les Peches and director of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) cultural festival Pink Season, said the book should remain on the shelf as a matter of "freedom of expression".
However, she said: "The widespread virulent prejudice, discrimination and stereotyping against sexual minorities [in] publications directly promoting homophobia should be carefully handled by public libraries.