Protesters clash at Cumberland City Council in Sydney’s west over controversial ban on same-sex parenting books

Protesters have clashed over a council’s controversial decision to ban same-sex parenting books in Sydney’s west.

The heated standoff erupted outside the Cumberland City Council Chambers in Maryland on Wednesday night.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Heated backlash erupts over controversial same-sex parenting book ban.

Cumberland City Council has faced backlash after deciding to pull books about same-sex parenting from library shelves on May 1.

Demonstrators from the group Pride in Protest rallied to call for the council’s ban to be lifted.

“We are different, but we can sit down and unite around shared values,” petition organizer Caroline Staples told 7NEWS.

Staples spearheaded a campaign to call on the council to reverse its decision, with more than 40,000 people signing a petition which was delivered to the council on Wednesday night.

Protesters, who want the council to uphold its decision, met Pride in Protest groups in a tense standoff.

“Not surprisingly, given what we have here, they’re terrified in their own community,” Staples said.

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