In a recent interview with Chris Walker on Daybreak South, James Chamberlain from Lawyers Against Transphobia discussed the critical issue of transphobia in schools and the ongoing battle to protect inclusive education in British Columbia. Chamberlain outlined the challenges that transgender students face in the education system, including bullying, lack of support from educators, and policies that fail to recognize and affirm their identities.
He stressed the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for all students, particularly those who are transgender, by implementing comprehensive anti-discrimination policies and ensuring that educators receive proper training on inclusivity and gender diversity. Chamberlain also called for stronger legal protections to safeguard the rights of transgender students and to hold schools accountable for upholding these rights.
The conversation highlighted the need for continued advocacy to ensure that BC’s education system remains inclusive and that transgender students can learn and thrive in an environment free from fear and discrimination. Chamberlain’s insights are a vital resource for anyone concerned about the future of inclusive education in the province.
This interview is a must-listen for educators, parents, and policymakers committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive educational environment for all students. You can listen to the interview at the 1 hour and 28 minutes mark.
Listen to the full interview here.
Full Transcript
[Speaker 1]
Bc opponents of transgender rights have picketed, schools disrupted, soji board, meetings and targeted School trustees. Now a group called lawyers against transphobia is offering trustees tools to keep schools and board meetings. Safe James, Chamberlain is a retired school. Principal he speaks for lawyers against transphobia and is with us this morning.
[Speaker 1]
James, good morning. Good morning. Can you expand on what we just heard what kinds of things are happening at board meetings around the province?
[Speaker 2]
Um, well in uh, Vernon for instance which is in your listing area. Um, there have been Transphobic individuals showing up at board meetings, trying to sabotage the board meeting and take over You know, speaking. Uh, at the mics refusing to leave meetings. Um, the Vernon School Board ended up having to change their board meetings to make some online meetings only, which is not their preference. Um, other districts, they have put they have policies in place around speakers and being on. Presentation lists in advance and send me your comments and in advance, Um, there are a number of boards that are doing that now.
[Speaker 2]
And they’ve had to change their procedures because it’s basically unsafe for anyone who attends those meetings to listen in. Um as well as for School trustees, some school trustees have been harassed and docked. So their personal information is being spread on extremist right-wing. Um websites and some trustees have received death threats as well. So it’s, it’s very alarming and concerning
[Speaker 1]
Much of it revolves around something called soji123 which has been in schools for I don’t know. Is it 10 years now? It’s been around a long long time but what’s triggered? All of this activity now.
[Speaker 2]
I think what we’re seeing in terms of why it’s coming up now is partly as a result of the trans, kind of culture wars that are happening in the states. Um, but also we have seen the Saskatchewan government imposed the notwithstanding Clause Um, in New Brunswick they passed a policy against gender diverse and gender affirming care for kids. Um, Alberta has been talking about it for some time and now with Conservative party talking provincially, talking about canceling soji Um you know it’s it’s basically a five alarm fire that’s spreading across Canada and loaders of games transphobia. Um,
[Speaker 2]
Are planning to add more chapters to our handbook, to protect teachers, students parents principals and vice principals because You know, everyone, everyone is a Target by transphobic extremists out there.
[Speaker 1]
What responsibilities do trustees have to uphold and Safeguard the rights of to Slgbtq plus people. Well, um, It’s no different than their
[Speaker 2]
Their responsibility to any student. You know, their their first responsibility is for students to feel safe at school. Their second responsibility is for students to be able to learn to their full academic potential. And, And when students are being targeted, targeted in these ways, they are at higher risk for suicide. And, They will drop out of school. Not complete school. You know, they might be, they might be lucky enough to be homeschooled. Um, But they lose opportunities to engage in society, and And trustees have to really take their moral responsibilities. Very, very seriously because Um,
[Speaker 2]
You know, if these students continue to be targeted more any other group of students could be next, it’s basically a stripping away of of People’s human rights. There
[Speaker 1]
Have been at least three teachers that I know of in our listening area who have been doxed to the point where they’ve had to go on leave. In in one case the activists were successful in triggering disciplinary action against a teacher, what resources do teachers have when they face that kind of campaign?
[Speaker 2]
They have they have a couple of options they have. Their Union, their local union. To reach out to for support. But, Um, The process for if it’s, if it’s a school board of employee to another school board employee, the Greece agreements procedure is very slow and very Cumbersome. Um, Principles are agents of the board. I’m a retired principal. Our job is to keep our staff safe. But, Are limited in what we can do. Based on the board and what the board. You know, the resources and support that the board provides What I’ve witnessed as a principal and what I’ve heard is that school leaders are sometimes left out on a limb to figure this out.
[Speaker 2]
Um and you’re you are correct. And that teachers are being basically harassed out of the classroom and forced onto medical leave, which is what the extremist. Parents and other people in a community want, they want to get rid of these teachers because they see them as a threat to their children. Or everyone’s children and teachers are just trying to do their job to teach the provincial curriculum and to teach it in an inclusive manner. So that there’s misinformation out there that soji is doing something to harm all kids. Soji is just provincial reason, resources that have been around for 10 years. Like you say and they support the provincial curriculum. So individual teachers don’t decide on the curriculum. The curriculum is mandated by the province.
[Speaker 2]
And you know, the recent collapse of BC United and the DC conservative party saying that they’re going to cancel soji in schools. Is very alarming and disturbing because we’re basically going to head in a direction where we’re no better than the states. But let me play
[Speaker 1]
Devil’s Advocate here we, you know, we live in a democracy. If people don’t like certain ideas in public policy including at school boards, they can run for office and they can get elected and they can change those policies. What’s wrong with that? People
[Speaker 2]
People can totally do that. We are a democracy. Uh, what we’re seeing in the states and what has been attempted in Canada? Well, in British Columbia, that hasn’t really been successful. Uh is people who are single issue candidates wanting to stop soji. For instance running and there’s a slate of candidates called parents voice. They had 28 Candidates in different districts that were for in Kelowna. And the last round of elections. Only three of those 28. Got elected in DC, two in Vanderhuden, one in Chilliwack. And the ones that Kelowna were all shut out because voters informed themselves about what these single issue candidates are all about.
[Speaker 2]
And so, Any school board candidate cannot be a single issue candidate on any issue? Otherwise they’re just they have such a narrow focus that they’re not uh they’re not running to protect all students in their care. It’s
[Speaker 1]
Been good to talk to you this morning. Thank you very much for joining us. James, My pleasure James.