Chilliwack school trustee Barry Neufeld has doubled down on his criticism of gender orientation resources being introduced to Chilliwack schools, saying he鈥檒l campaign on the issue when he runs for re-election next year.
Neufeld, who called the B.C. education ministry鈥檚 program on Sexual Identity and Gender Orientation 鈥渁 weapon of propaganda,鈥� told a packed rally in Chilliwack Tuesday that he won鈥檛 back down from criticisms he鈥檚 made about the program.
Neufeld reads statement saying words and thoughts are his own
鈥� Jessica Peters (@CHWKcommunity)
He called SOGI 123 an indoctrination, echoing condemnation by the self-proclaimed 鈥淐ulture Guard鈥� which organized the rally. They say parents should be the only ones to address issues of gender with children.
Neufled was the 鈥済uest of honour鈥� at the rally and earned applause from the 400-plus people who turned out for the event 鈥� people that included fellow trustee Heather Maahs and former Chilliwack MLA John Les.
Neufeld just announced he will run in 2018 on this platform then shook Kari Simpson鈥檚 hand, roaring applause.
鈥� Jessica Peters (@CHWKcommunity)
Outside the rally, there was a counter-rally. A group of about two dozen protesters showed up with signs and flags, and chanted as people entered and exited Evergreen Hall. They were mostly parents, teachers and advocates from Chilliwack. They are calling for Neufeld to resign. But in his speech, he said that while he won鈥檛 go against the wishes of the board, he will be running on a platform of parent involvement and against SOGI implementation, when it鈥檚 time to vote for school trustees in the fall of 2018.
Protesters chanting 鈥淏arry Neufeld鈥檚 got to go鈥�
鈥� Jessica Peters (@CHWKcommunity)
The issue of how to deal with gender identity in the classroom remains undecided in Chilliwack. But, the resource material is available for any teacher to use in B.C., following changes to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
jpeters@theprogress.com
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