Reaction was immediate and negative to news that several Liberal MLAs have used taxpayers money to run ads in a B.C. Christian magazine that has run stories opposed to transgender rights, to medical assistance in dying, and spoken out against banning so-called B次元官网网址渃onversion therapy.B次元官网网址�
Shortly after the story broke on Tuesday that a number of Liberal MLAs, including party leader Andrew Wilkinson had bought ads in the Langley-based B次元官网网址淭he Light Magazine,B次元官网网址� Wilkinson issued a statement on Twitter promising to take action.
There is no room in the BC Liberal Party for homophobia, transphobia, or any other form of discrimination.
B次元官网网址� Andrew Wilkinson (@Wilkinson4BC)
Going forward, we are taking immediate steps to ensure our advertising decisions reflect those values at all times.
B次元官网网址漈here is no room in the BC Liberal Party for homophobia, transphobia, or any other form of discrimination,B次元官网网址� Wilkinson said.
B次元官网网址淕oing forward, we are taking immediate steps to ensure our advertising decisions reflect those values at all times.B次元官网网址�
Coleman said the idea of buying a group ad in the magazine had come from the Liberal caucus, and he expected that process would be adjusted in future.
That said, the veteran MLA added buying a seasonal B次元官网网址済ood wishesB次元官网网址� message does not represent his endorsement of the positions taken by the publication, any more than the ads he runs in local newspapers do.
B次元官网网址淪ometimes, I donB次元官网网址檛 like your editorial content, but I still buy ads,B次元官网网址� Coleman commented.
He went on to say that The Light was a way of reaching out to the Christian community, no different than reaching other religions through other publications.
Black Press Media has reached out to MLA Polak, as well as The Light Magazine. But prior to deadline, there was no response.
It was B次元官网网址渧ery disturbingB次元官网网址� but not a great surprise, to Art Pearson, the public outreach coordinator for the Hominum Fraser Valley support group B次元官网网址� which holds monthly meetings in the Langley area for gay, bi-sexual, and questioning men.
B次元官网网址淭here are going to be some people who never change [their views],B次元官网网址� Pearson told the Langley Advance Times.
Pearson, who described himself as a religious person and member of the United Church, said he supports an inclusive, tolerant version of Christianity.
He suspects the ads were purchased without full knowledge of the magazineB次元官网网址檚 contents.
B次元官网网址淪omebody in the Liberal Party should have done their homework,B次元官网网址� Pearson commented. B次元官网网址淭hey were sloppy.B次元官网网址�
He suggested the party could best make amends by spending ad dollars to amplify the message of WikinsonB次元官网网址檚 lone Tweet.
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For Langley inclusion activist Stacey Wakelin, the most B次元官网网址渦nfortunateB次元官网网址� part of this story is the fact that the MLAs reportedly used their constituency office allowance designated for communications with their constituents.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the fact that itB次元官网网址檚 taxpayers money is what really frustrates me,B次元官网网址� Wakelin said.
She thinks it is possible that the ads ran in error, but Wakelin thinks it is just as likely that the MLA were playing to their core support.
B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e looking at career politicians who cater to their base,B次元官网网址� Wakelin said. B次元官网网址淚 hope they will use this as a learning experience.B次元官网网址�
A March 2020 article in The Light, which describes itself as B次元官网网址渁 free monthly Christian lifestyle magazine,B次元官网网址� disputed claims about the harm done by conversion therapy.
B次元官网网址淐ontemporary [conversion] therapists are more likely to rely on talk, visualization, prayer, social skills training, psychoanalytic or group therapy,B次元官网网址� the article stated.
It warned banning conversion therapy B次元官网网址渃ould actually have far-reaching impact on pastoral care and support groups,B次元官网网址� predicting B次元官网网址渢he shore of religious freedom is indeed being eroded again.B次元官网网址�
Endorsing conversion therapy was especially offensive to Wakelin, because she personally knows people whose B次元官网网址渓ives were ruinedB次元官网网址� by attempts to forcibly change their sexual orientation.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 2020,B次元官网网址� Wakelin went on to say. B次元官网网址淲hy do we keep having these conversations?B次元官网网址�
Wakelin, who has opposed what she believes to be anti-gay activism in the community, is currently on the board of the Triple A Senior Housing and Langley Pos-Abilties societies, while additionally organizing On the Table B次元官网网址� a community dinner held for citizens to break bread and meet each other.
Other Liberal MLAs seen in a 2019 B次元官网网址滺appy Thanksgiving from the B.C. Liberal CaucusB次元官网网址� ad that ran in the magazine were; Langley MLA Mary Polak, Langley East MLA Rich Coleman, Surrey B次元官网网址� Cloverdale MLA Marvin Hunt, Kamloops B次元官网网址� South Thompson MLA Todd Stone, Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong (which also serves a northeast section of Langley) , Vancouver B次元官网网址� Langara MLA Michael Lee, Vancouver B次元官网网址� False Creek MLA Sam Sullivan, Abbotsford B次元官网网址� Mission MLA Simon Gibson, and Chilliwack B次元官网网址� Kent MLA Laurie Throness.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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