Teachers, trustees spar over gender curriculum

Chilliwack teachers are taking a stand against the district’s school trustees who oppose the province’s gender identity and sexual orientation curriculum, saying they have created a toxic work environment.

At a meeting Tuesday, the Chilliwack Teachers’ Association passed a motion of non-confidence against the Chilliwack Board of Education after controversial comments made by trustee Barry Neufeld last fall.

The association claims Chilliwack trustees have failed to take a strong stance against attacks on the province’s Sexual Orientation Gender Identity (SOGI) program.

In October, Neufeld criticized the program on social media, saying that allowing young children to choose their gender amounted to “child abuse.”

He apologized, but then a month later made similar comments at a rally to oppose the LGBTQ curriculum. Neufeld’s speech was denounced by B.C. Education Minister Rob Fleming, who said it was “disturbing” that a school trustee spoke at such an event.

Now the Chilliwack Teachers’ Association is calling on Fleming to intervene.

Association president Lee-Anne Clarke says the groups is “extremely worried” about ensuring safe and inclusive schools and work environment for everyone.

“At a time when our school community needs a unified response of support, the board has allowed a toxic climate to spread across the school district,” Clarke said.

In July 2016, the B.C. Human Rights Code was amended to include gender identity and expression as a prohibited ground of discrimination. Later that year, the province told all school boards to include sexual orientation and gender identity in district and school codes of conduct.