Could SOGI be an issue in election?

Sexual orientation and gender identification could be an issue in the upcoming school board elections.

At least that’s what a group of Christian parents are hoping for. They shouldn’t hold their breath.

The Canadian Christian Lobby (we couldn’t find anything about them online) sent a letter to Central Okanagan School District trustees signed by three individuals — Christian Michael McCay, Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson, and Jenn Smith — with no forwarding phone numbers or email addresses.

This letter may have gone to trustees all across the province. For some reason, they’ve targeted Kelowna, but not the rest of the Okanagan.

They are opposed to the ministery-mandated SOGI 123 resources that are now available in all public schools in B.C.

This group regards SOGI 123 as “offensive to our beliefs and a violation of our right to religious freedom and conscience.”

The letter further reads: “We will be actively endorsing any candidate that promises to advise teachers against using SOGI materials. Unlike the radical LGBTQ lobby, we do not expect our beliefs to be taught in public schools, but Christian families have an equal right to education in our public school system. Telling our children or implying that changing gender is a good thing (which we regard as highly dangerous) is actually an ideological statement that many Christians and non-Christians disagree with and which have no place in public schools.”

This group is within its rights. Any group or individual may push for their issue to be heard. In Penticton in 2008, a large number of candidates ran on the platform of saving the Pen-Hi auditorium from the wrecker’s ball. (Only two were elected and the end result was destruction of a historical and functional facility.)

But, board chairwoman Moyra Baxter warns about basing your decision on who to vote for on a single issue.

The CCL has an uphill climb because — to be blunt — SOGI 123 isn’t a hot-button issue with most parents. The majority of Canadians are accepting of the LGBTQ community and don’t have a problem with it being mentioned in the curriculum.

Tanya Granic Allen ran for the leadership of Ontario’s Progressive Conservative party. Her claim to fame was an active crusade against the sex-ed curriculum. She finished last and was later disqualified as a candidate.

Here in B.C., the majority of voters rarely put the same level of scrutiny on the school board that they would a city council. There’s very few people in the galleries at board meetings. These meetings are not televised or available online. Many trustees are elected solely on name recognition.

The people of Summerland considered the school board to be so unimportant, that both trustees there were acclaimed in 2014, the same year 16 people ran for town council and five for mayor.

Baxter, to her credit, remains committed to her values.

“I absolutely stand behind it,” Baxter said. “When we look at inclusiveness and being respectful to everyone, it is a set of resources for teachers. They can use them or not.”