Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
National

Chilliwack School Trustee Facing Human Rights Complaint For LGBTQ Comments

Darpan News Desk, 16 Apr, 2018 01:51 PM
    VANCOUVER — A Chilliwack school trustee is facing a human rights complaint for controversial comments he has made about gender identity and sexual orientation.
     
     
    The B.C. Teachers' Federation and Chilliwack Teachers' Association allege in their joint complaint that trustee Barry Neufeld's statements and social media posts have been "discriminatory," and are likely to expose transgender individuals to hatred.
     
     
    The complaint filed with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal alleges that Neufeld negatively affected teachers' work environments by calling those who support transgender students "child abusers."
     
     
    It claims Neufeld has referred to trans people as part of a "biologically absurd theory," and that his statements paint trans people as "ill, delusional and suggests that there is a transgender agenda that will harm children."
     
     
    Reached by phone, Neufeld said he remains an active trustee and he refers all comments to his lawyer, who was not immediately available.
     
     
    Much of Neufeld's criticisms have centred on an educational resource aimed at supporting LGBTQ students in the district, which he called a "weapon of propaganda" in the fall.
     
     
    Neufeld later apologized for his comments, saying he believes in a safe learning environment but that educational resources should be reviewed by parents and teachers before they're implemented.
     
     
    In January, he said in a statement that he must remain on the Chilliwack Board of Education to protect "impressionable children."
     
     
    The board had passed a motion asking him to resign.
     
     
    B.C. Education Minister Rob Fleming has also called for Neufeld to step down, saying the trustee's comments have undermined the goals of the school board and the ministry.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Victoria Police Officer Const. Ian Jordan Dies After Lying In A Coma Since 1987

    Victoria Police Officer Const. Ian Jordan Dies After Lying In A Coma Since 1987
    Victoria police Const. Ian Jordan died in hospital Wednesday after spending 30 years in a coma caused by his cruiser crashing into another police vehicle racing towards same call. 

    Victoria Police Officer Const. Ian Jordan Dies After Lying In A Coma Since 1987

    More Than A Dozen Canadians Charged In Global Child Sex Abuse Investigation

    More Than A Dozen Canadians Charged In Global Child Sex Abuse Investigation
    TORONTO — A sweeping global child exploitation investigation has led to more than 150 arrests around the world and either charges or convictions against 16 Canadians, Toronto police said Thursday.

    More Than A Dozen Canadians Charged In Global Child Sex Abuse Investigation

    5 Things To Know About Social And Economic Outcomes Of Immigrants To Canada

    5 Things To Know About Social And Economic Outcomes Of Immigrants To Canada
    The longer an immigrant is in Canada, the better off they are. Annual incomes of highly-skilled workers surpass the Canadian average soon after arrival and increase over time

    5 Things To Know About Social And Economic Outcomes Of Immigrants To Canada

    Police In Abbotsford, B.C., Seek Witnesses To Fatal Head-On Collision

    Police In Abbotsford, B.C., Seek Witnesses To Fatal Head-On Collision
    Officers say a Dodge Charger and Chevrolet Cavalier collided in September 2017 (on Whatcom Road), sending both drivers to hospital.

    Police In Abbotsford, B.C., Seek Witnesses To Fatal Head-On Collision

    B.C. Families Say They're Sidelined From Involvement In Addiction Treatment

    Deb Bailey said her 21-year-old daughter, Ola Bailey, was found dead in the stairwell of a building in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside in 2015, after overdosing on heroin laced with fentanyl.

    B.C. Families Say They're Sidelined From Involvement In Addiction Treatment

    Meeting With PM Won't Force B.C. To Off Its Pipeline Stand: Environment Minister

    Meeting With PM Won't Force B.C. To Off Its Pipeline Stand: Environment Minister
    British Columbia Environment Minister George Heyman says he doesn't expect the province to back down on its battle against the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion during a meeting Sunday with the prime minister and Alberta's premier.

    Meeting With PM Won't Force B.C. To Off Its Pipeline Stand: Environment Minister