Image Credit: UNSPASH
February 25, 2023 - 7:00 AM
Protestors haven't given up trying to stop queer and trans-friendly policies at Central Okanagan schools.
On Wednesday, Feb. 22, three people spoke out in opposition to SOGI123 policies and books that expose children to "pornography" at schools during a School District 23 board meeting.
Wilbur Turner, co-founder of the LGBTQ+ organization Advocacy Canada, filmed the three women who were protesting during the meeting. He said they weren't acting on their own, rather as part of a coordinated effort led by the well-known and well-funded anti-vaccine group Action4Canada.
"Their talking points are based in misinformation and fear-mongering intended to remove SOGI123 resources from schools, to make queer kids invisible and to make anybody in the school system, including teachers and trustees, who are queer also invisible," Turner said.
READ MORE: Why the sexual orientation policy in Kelowna schools is not 'propaganda'
To see people speaking out against queer-friendly policies and trans people was heartbreaking for Turner.
They appeared to take their frustrations out on a motion to allow equitable access to washrooms for students and staff. It allows students who want the privacy to access more private, single-person washrooms, Turner said.
One woman, Turner recorded at the meeting, accused the school district of "sexual indoctrination" as board chair Le-Anne Tiede attempted to cut her off at the end of a three-minute speech.
"Children who are confused and have mental issues are being conditioned to think that they are trans," she said as Tiede cut her microphone.
Tiede allowed her three minutes to speak, as the board does for any member of the public, before stopping her.
"I can allow you three minutes and I won't allow anyone to attack our trustees," Tiede said.
Tiede didn't respond to a interview request, but she did call SOGI123 policies "politics and propaganda" while campaigning ahead of the October election.
READ MORE: What SOGI 123 is – and what it isn't
Exactly what she meant by that comment isn't clear.
Turner, however, was dismayed to see the three women allowed to speak as long as they did.
"It should have been cut off as soon as they were attacking a school trustee or making transphobic comments, but it wasn't. It was allowed to continue until their time was up," he said. "There was nothing said about how inappropriate these comments were."
Trustee Wayne Broughton — who has children on the LGBTQ spectrum — made general comments later on in the meeting, he said.
"I did see some of the trustees shaking their heads and looking at the chair... as if they were trying to get her to do something," Turner said. "She just ignored and let it go."
Whether the speakers were part of Action 4 Canada directly or not isn't clear, but Turner said their comments came directly from the organization's common scripts.
It's known to support anti-vaccine and anti-LGBTQ policies and it's members have been recently banned from other school board meetings in B.C.
READ MORE: Arrest warrant issued for anti-vaxxer who assaulted Vernon counter protester
It's a well-funded organization with $790,000 in donations just last year, according to its financial records.
Mission Public Schools banned the organization from its board meetings for a year after members presented misinformation and made discriminating comments, according to Mission City Record report.
Chilliwack RCMP investigated this past week after it received reports that school libraries had books with child pornography.
"This is a serious allegation and one that caused many parents great concern in our community," RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Krista Vrolyk said.
Police found the claim was erroneous after officers investigated the claim at School District 33.
As for the Central Okanagan school district, there's no indication whether it will take any action to combat anti-LGBTQ advocates at its meetings, but it did pass the new bathroom policy unanimously.
— This story was updated at 8:30 a.m., Feb, 28, 2023, to correct the spelling of Wayne Broughton's name.
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