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 害羞草研究所渃onversion therapy.害羞草研究所�
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 害羞草研究所淭he Light Magazine,害羞草研究所� 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.
害羞草研究所� Andrew Wilkinson (@Wilkinson4BC)
Going forward, we are taking immediate steps to ensure our advertising decisions reflect those values at all times.
害羞草研究所漈here is no room in the BC Liberal Party for homophobia, transphobia, or any other form of discrimination,害羞草研究所� Wilkinson said.
害羞草研究所淕oing forward, we are taking immediate steps to ensure our advertising decisions reflect those values at all times.害羞草研究所�
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 害羞草研究所済ood wishes害羞草研究所� message does not represent his endorsement of the positions taken by the publication, any more than the ads he runs in local newspapers do.
害羞草研究所淪ometimes, I don害羞草研究所檛 like your editorial content, but I still buy ads,害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所渧ery disturbing害羞草研究所� but not a great surprise, to Art Pearson, the public outreach coordinator for the Hominum Fraser Valley support group 害羞草研究所� which holds monthly meetings in the Langley area for gay, bi-sexual, and questioning men.
害羞草研究所淭here are going to be some people who never change [their views],害羞草研究所� 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 magazine害羞草研究所檚 contents.
害羞草研究所淪omebody in the Liberal Party should have done their homework,害羞草研究所� Pearson commented. 害羞草研究所淭hey were sloppy.害羞草研究所�
He suggested the party could best make amends by spending ad dollars to amplify the message of Wikinson害羞草研究所檚 lone Tweet.
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For Langley inclusion activist Stacey Wakelin, the most 害羞草研究所渦nfortunate害羞草研究所� part of this story is the fact that the MLAs reportedly used their constituency office allowance designated for communications with their constituents.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 the fact that it害羞草研究所檚 taxpayers money is what really frustrates me,害羞草研究所� 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.
害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檙e looking at career politicians who cater to their base,害羞草研究所� Wakelin said. 害羞草研究所淚 hope they will use this as a learning experience.害羞草研究所�
A March 2020 article in The Light, which describes itself as 害羞草研究所渁 free monthly Christian lifestyle magazine,害羞草研究所� disputed claims about the harm done by conversion therapy.
害羞草研究所淐ontemporary [conversion] therapists are more likely to rely on talk, visualization, prayer, social skills training, psychoanalytic or group therapy,害羞草研究所� the article stated.
It warned banning conversion therapy 害羞草研究所渃ould actually have far-reaching impact on pastoral care and support groups,害羞草研究所� predicting 害羞草研究所渢he shore of religious freedom is indeed being eroded again.害羞草研究所�
Endorsing conversion therapy was especially offensive to Wakelin, because she personally knows people whose 害羞草研究所渓ives were ruined害羞草研究所� by attempts to forcibly change their sexual orientation.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 2020,害羞草研究所� Wakelin went on to say. 害羞草研究所淲hy do we keep having these conversations?害羞草研究所�
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 害羞草研究所� a community dinner held for citizens to break bread and meet each other.
Other Liberal MLAs seen in a 2019 害羞草研究所滺appy Thanksgiving from the B.C. Liberal Caucus害羞草研究所� ad that ran in the magazine were; Langley MLA Mary Polak, Langley East MLA Rich Coleman, Surrey 害羞草研究所� Cloverdale MLA Marvin Hunt, Kamloops 害羞草研究所� South Thompson MLA Todd Stone, Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong (which also serves a northeast section of Langley) , Vancouver 害羞草研究所� Langara MLA Michael Lee, Vancouver 害羞草研究所� False Creek MLA Sam Sullivan, Abbotsford 害羞草研究所� Mission MLA Simon Gibson, and Chilliwack 害羞草研究所� Kent MLA Laurie Throness.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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