SINGAPORE — Two children’s books dealing with gay subjects won’t be destroyed after all and will be restored to Singapore’s public libraries, an official said Friday.
Minister of Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim had said in mid-July he supported the state-run National Library Board’s decision to pulp three books deemed to have inappropriate content. But many people in the conservative Southeast Asian city-state objected.
“I understand these reactions, which reflect a deep-seated respect in our culture for the written word,” he said in a statement. He stood by the decision to remove the books from the children’s section of the libraries, but said he instructed libraries to place the books in their adult sections.
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In recent months, religious conservatives in the wealthy, multi-cultural city-state of 5.4 million people have become more vocal in opposing gay rights. On paper, gay sex remains a criminal offense in Singapore, although authorities rarely enforce the British colonial-era legislation.
Last month, Singapore witnessed its largest gay pride rally with 26,000 in attendance.
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