Editor: I suspect a lot of people who are supporting SOGI have not actually read the policies or do not understand them. The recent letter by I. Miltenberger of Abbotsford is a good example. They state in the letter that “LGBTQ values are not being forced on people.” That is completely wrong.
In the BC Ministry of Education Policy Guide on SOGI, the first goal is: “Visibility: The diversity of sexual orientation, gender identities and expressions are recognized and valued.” If a student is being told they must “value” diversity of gender expression and gender identities then that in my mind is forcing those values on the student.
I can fully support inclusion and protection of those I disagree with, but I cannot value something I believe is morally wrong.
There are a number of other areas where SOGI “best practices” just don’t make sense.
• Best Practice 1 “Common Language” — would force students to use pronouns which do not fit the obvious appearance of the individual causing considerable confusion for a young child and likely leading to more discrimination not less.
• Best Practice 4 “Confidentiality” — This states students have the right to confidentiality of their official and preferred gender. This is even more confusing. If the student can keep their preferred gender confidential then how can they expect to be treated appropriately?
• Best Practice 6 “Gender Integrated and Inclusive Activities” — This states that students will have the option to be included in the groups that correspond to their gender identity. This is completely contrary how all sports organizations including all international sporting organizations work. No one allows persons who are physically male to compete as female just because they identify as gender neutral or gender female. It will not work and would be totally unfair.
• Best Practice 8 “Inclusive Learning” — This states that classroom material and activities contain positive images and accurate information about sexual and gender diversity. I simply don’t trust BC educators to provide accurate information. Accurate information must include the fact that all major religions including those most prevalent in our area: Sikhism, Christianity, Judaism, and Hinduism teach that there are only two genders and consider all other gender expressions wrong.
My last concern is a financial one.
The best statistics available in North America indicate that there are less than 6/10ths of one per cent of the population who are transgender or gender fluid. Creating special physical facilities for such a small group of individuals is a very poor use of our limited education funds. The money could be much better spent accommodating true special needs students and on programs to keep our children off drugs and out of gangs.
If there really is a bullying problem in our schools, I suspect that drugs and gangs are a much bigger cause of the problem than someone who is not happy in the body that they either evolved in or were created in.
SOGI is not the answer to bullying and discrimination. It is simply a philosophy being pushed by a small group of individuals who have no tolerance for those who disagree with their chosen lifestyle.
Let’s come up with a no-bullying policy that does not try to put the victim into some predetermined group, but rather identifies the aggressor and deals with their issues.
David Nielsen
Langley