Abbotsford school trustee speaks out after anti-SOGI protest disrupts board meeting

After an Abbotsford school board meeting was surrounded by hundreds of anti-SOGI protesters Tuesday, one trustee is trying to dispel misinformation, saying schools are not trying to indoctrinate anyone.

Trustee Shirley Paulsen (née Wilson) took to social media, saying she is “deeply troubled” by the misinformation being shared, particularly around Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) resources.

“SOGI 123 is not curriculum and is not a mandated resource. Our staff [are] not indoctrinating children. There is inclusion and safe spaces provided within the schools. Please ask for real information and leave out the speculation,” she wrote in a Facebook post.

“Parents – you have the right to speak to your child’s teacher and ask what is happening in the classroom and being taught. So ask. There are so many real issues that we are facing in our schools, and honestly, this the least of things.”

Video of the protest was shared on social media. At one point, protesters were seen inside the building, carrying signs and yelling toward trustees, who were also in the presence of police officers.

The video also captures protesters outside the building, with many standing right up against the doors holding up signs and chanting “leave our kids alone.”

Officers were then seen escorting trustees from the building through the loud crowd of demonstrators.

The Abbotsford Police Department confirms to CityNews that on Sept. 26, around 7 p.m. officers “noted an increasing number of people gathering around Justice Way and Tims (Street)” — where the school board building is located.

“Attendance was estimated at about 300 persons throughout the event. AbbyPD members made no arrests and assisted with traffic control to ensure the safety of both pedestrians and motorists in the area,” the statement from police reads.

“Members also stood by, ensuring no violence or escalations would occur while members of the school board and staff of other surrounding office buildings in the area left their workplaces in the evening.”

The Abbotsford Board of Education tells CityNews the demonstrators showed up “prior to the scheduled public board meeting” to voice concerns.

“Unfortunately, within the initial 30 minutes of the meeting, disruptions arose that significantly impacted business proceedings,” the statement reads.

The board says trustees adjourned the meeting under the guidance of police, before initiating “established emergency response procedures due to potential safety concerns.”

“Emergency response procedures were lifted at approximately 9:15 p.m.,” the board adds.

Related article: 

• What exactly is SOGI 123?

• Hundreds gather in Vancouver in support of 2SLGBTQIA+ community

• How transphobic, anti-gender diversity rhetoric affects 2SLGBTQIA+ kids

The demonstration in Abbotsford came just days after protests against gender-inclusive education resources were held across the country, including in Metro Vancouver.

In her social media post Wednesday, Paulsen says protesting is “fine” so long as it’s done peacefully.

“They are not fine if they cause others to feel unsafe,” she wrote.

“It is becoming increasingly evident that hate and exclusion live here. I understand that some folks here may not agree, but I am okay with that. Recent events have caused me to become more vocal. Feeling unsafe has amplified my need to reflect and take a stand.”

Many protesters have argued that sexual orientation and gender identity resources in schools harm children. However, reports and experts have debunked many claims, saying exposure to this kind of narrative and misinformation can have a detrimental effect on the mental health of 2SLGBTQIA+ children and youth.

According to a report from the B.C. Representative for Children and Youth, issued this past June, harmful rhetoric also includes stigma-related stressors, such as discrimination, lack of acceptance, and victimization. The representative adds there’s been a “surge” in this kind of messaging both in the U.S. and Canada.

“According to the American Human Rights Campaign and the Center for Countering Digital Hate, hateful social media campaigns – many of which focus specifically on children and youth – have soared by more than 400 per cent since the passage of Florida’s so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay or Trans’ bill in spring 2022. As these campaigns have received increasing publicity, they have gained widespread traction, including in B.C.,” the report explains.