A billboard put up on Westbank First Nation land in February spurred a heated conversation about what is being taught in B.C. schools.
It featured an animated drawing of a teacher wearing a mask and standing in front of a pride flag.
鈥淲e are aware that it is provocative,鈥� said P.J., the owner, of 鈥榞etawake.ca鈥� who only agreed to speak under anonymity, claiming he fears severe harassment and bullying.
He said he wanted to make parents aware that what they call 鈥渆xtreme political ideologies鈥� like critical race theory, social justice, sexual orientation, and gender identity are being taught in public schools.
Carrie Broughton, founder of Trans Parent Okanagan, however, said that 鈥渨e鈥檙e not teaching about trans people any more than we are teaching about cis heteronormative people.鈥�
She said she heard from numerous families about the harm that seeing the billboard is causing queer children.
P.J. said that concepts like homosexuality and gender orientation should be left for parents to discuss in their homes.
Broughton agreed but said argued that it was also important for children to be exposed to diverse perspectives.
P.J. said he believed some teachers took it upon themselves to teach students about 鈥渨oke鈥� ideologies without making parents aware, and that families don鈥檛 have an opportunity to opt-out.
鈥淚t is infuriating and frustrating鈥he claims are delusional,鈥� said Central Okanagan School Board Trustee Wayne Broughton about the billboard.
鈥淚f you want people to be more accepting of each other, you have to educate them.鈥�
He added that unfortunately, home isn鈥檛 always a safe space to discuss sexuality and gender identity for all children and for some, school is the only place that they can learn about these things.
The billboard was up for 10 days before being removed.
