A woman called the paper on Monday to say she saw something in Gibsons that we should know about. She was from Vancouver, she said, and while driving back to the ferry she spotted a couple of people on the side of the highway displaying signs that read, “THERE ARE ONLY TWO GENDERS, MALE AND FEMALE.”
The woman said her concern was that this was an older couple and they might not realize that it could be dangerous to flash such a provocative message. I told her there was a real culture of peaceful protest and self-expression on the Sunshine Coast and that I expected their display would be taken in stride.
I was wrong.
At 6:10 p.m., I received a copy of an email sent to the principal of Elphinstone Secondary School and the superintendent of schools for School District 46.
Under the header, “HOMOPHOBE ALERT,” Rick Cloherty of Gibsons referenced an assembly announced for Friday and wrote, “I can’t help but connect the rather venomous display of homophobia I saw on display today with your event.”
Then he tells his story:
“Some time after lunch today, two people were stationed at Gibsons Way at Shaw Road displaying placards stating, ‘THERE ARE ONLY TWO GENDERS, MALE AND FEMALE.’ The display was within spitting distance of Elphi and Gibsons Elementary. I asked what the sign meant and was told ‘exactly what it says.’ We had other words too!
“When I got home I called the RCMP, only to be informed that no laws were being broken, i.e. free speech in a public place. Interesting, in as much as I was certainly struck by the hatefulness of their message, especially in such close proximity to schools that are attempting to eradicate discrimination based on sexual orientation.”
Mr. Cloherty wasn’t the only one to take strong exception to the two-gender-only signs or describe the message as “hate.”
On Wednesday, which was coincidentally Pink Shirt Day, a woman named Kirsten Rawkins took to Facebook and called on her “dear friends and neighbours” to join her for a rainbow protest outside the high school.
“Like others, I have been so disheartened by the careless and hateful public show of inacceptance (right across from the high school) by the couple of people holding signs at Shaw Road,” Ms. Rawkins wrote. “Instead of just thinking about doing something, this morning I am going to get myself some balloons in rainbow colours and spread a message of love and acceptance.”
It was a beautiful afternoon, and a photo of the rainbow protest that was posted later in the day showed at least five women standing outside Elphi, some with baby strollers. Two tots held a sign decorated in rainbow colours saying, “GIBSONS IS FOR EVERYONE.”
Everyone, apparently, except people who believe there are only two genders.
