The Premier of B.C., the RCMP and city councilsa国际传媒檚 Loyal Woolridge are concerned about the discriminatory and hateful behaviour that targeted a young girl who was competing at an elementary school track meet in Kelowna on June 8.
The incident garnered public attention after the girlsa国际传媒檚 mother posted on the Kelowna Alert Facebook.
She wrote that her daughter was mis gendered and accosted by a grandfather while competing in shot put.
The mother claims that the man yelled at her daughter, demanding to see a birth certificate and saying that if she was not a boy, then she was definitely trans and should be disqualified from the competition.
sa国际传媒淢y daughter is a girl, was born female, and uses she/ her pronouns. She has a pixie cut,sa国际传媒� said the mother.
Woolridge said that the public needs to start calling behaviour like this out since since it is traumatizing for children.
sa国际传媒淲e need to start recognizing this as hate speechsa国际传媒his is not a difference of opinion.sa国际传媒�
Woolridge explained that having freedom of speech does not mean that a person has a right to spread hate speech.
He said that if a person witnesses bullying or discrimination, they have a responsibility to speak up, or call the police, particularly when it involves children.
Const. Mike Della-Paolera said that the Kelowna detachment has received sa国际传媒渁 number of messagessa国际传媒� regarding the situation, and that an investigative file has been opened.
sa国际传媒淲e too share everyonesa国际传媒檚 grave concerns with discriminatory behaviour,sa国际传媒� said Della-Paolera.
Woolridge said that the hateful movement targeting the trans community is growing.
sa国际传媒淧eople are being oppressed on purpose.sa国际传媒�
The councillor said that the mounting hate against transgender people has led to this instance, where a cis-gendered child was discriminated against for their hair cut.
sa国际传媒淚t is important to our community to speak out against discriminatory behaviours, and research shows that social support is an important protective factor for those experiencing marginalization, racism, or discrimination. If our community takes action together, this will assist us in the ultimate goal of a diverse, inclusive and safe community for all. Your willingness to take an active role demonstrates your care and responsibility. We understand that this incident, and the ongoing discussion on social media can be difficult,sa国际传媒� said Della-Paolera.
Premier David Eby said sa国际传媒渓etsa国际传媒檚 keep calling out transphobia when we see it,sa国际传媒� in a tweet about the incident.
He said that hate hurts everyone and sa国际传媒� is not acceptable or welcome in British Columbia.sa国际传媒�
This is awful. This kind of hate is not acceptable or welcome in British Columbia.
sa国际传媒� David Eby (@Dave_Eby)
Let's keep calling out transphobia when we see it. Hate hurts everyone. And let's stand with this girl and everyone who is targeted just for being themselves.
Woolridge said that the school district is working diligently to address the situation.
Additionally, he said that city councilsa国际传媒檚 new safety plan addresses the need to create safe spaces for marginalized, gender diverse, queer and non-white people.
sa国际传媒淚f we donsa国际传媒檛 create safe spaces, it causes trauma and harm for youth in their formative years.sa国际传媒�
Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas chimed in on the afternoon of June 13, calling the incident sa国际传媒渉eartbreakingsa国际传媒�.
sa国际传媒� City of Kelowna (@cityofkelowna)
Kevin Kaardal, Central Okanagan Public Schools superintendent/CEO, said the incident is under an internal school district investigation, wth those involved facing being banned from all future school events.
Kaardal said the incident sa国际传媒渁s reported to ussa国际传媒� saw a person or persons make inappropriate comments during the Grade 4 shot put event, and were aggressive and belligerent to school staff, ultimately disrupting the track meet.
sa国际传媒淭his is just unacceptablesa国际传媒dults need to govern their behavioursa国际传媒e expect our students to behave with civility to one another and adults should be no different,sa国际传媒� he said.
Kaardal said parents should not even make such damaging comments to other adults while within earshot of any youth.
sa国际传媒淪taff at the event responded and intervened at the time, eventually moving the event across the field,sa国际传媒� Kaardal said.
sa国际传媒淭he entire school community that surrounds the student has shown tremendous allyship and concern for their wellbeing following the incident and will continue to check in and ensure supports are available to anyone affected by the incident.sa国际传媒�
