'Homophobic' book: Ban lifted
2002-05-04 10:56
Cape Town - An adults-only age restriction slapped on an allegedly
homophobic book has been overturned by a review board of the Film
and Publications Board.
The book, The Pink Agenda: The Ruin Of The Family, was
co-authored by Christian activists Christine McCafferty and Peter
Hammond.
The Lesbian and Gay Equality Project (LGEP) has described the
book as "the worst example of homophobic hate speech ever published
in South Africa".
Following complaints from gay activists, the Film and
Publications Board ruled in January that the book would have to
carry a notice that it was for sale only to people over 18.
The committee found the book was not desirable for those under
18, who might not be able to separate fact from fiction.
"The committee was concerned that the book has made assertions
that are questionable to say the least, and the (authors') leap
from homosexuality to criminal conduct is... completely without
justification," a Film and Publications board spokesman said at the
time.
The book "would come close to constituting hate literature", he
added.
However, the book's publishers Christian Liberty Books (CLB)
said in a statement on Saturday the age restriction had been lifted
after a Film and Publications Boards review hearing earlier in the
week.
"The Review Board said in its ruling ... that the writers have
the freedom to express any view that cannot be conclusively proven
to incite hatred or violence," CLB said.
In a statement, McCafferty said: "We are very excited about the
ruling. In many ways we feel justified in that the Board has agreed
that our book is not harmful to under-18s.
"We argued in our appeal that, through the sex education,
children as young as nine are being confronted with positive
messages about sodomy, bisexuality and so forth. In their early
teens they are being faced with choices as regards their own lives
and entering homosexuality.
"It would be wrong to deny them access to all the different
views on homosexuality and the facts about it, including the
medical problems associated with sodomy," she said.
- SAPA