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