EDITOR香蕉视频直播橲 NOTE: This story includes phrases that readers may find upsetting.

Recent Twitter activity by Kelowna-Mission MLA and BC Liberal Party gender equity critic Renee Merrifield has some calling her out for promoting transphobic views and people.

One of the posts in question happened on Jan. 3, when Merrifield quote-tweeted Jordan Peterson, who is well known for refusing to use gender-neutral pronouns and amplifying transphobic rhetoric. In another instance, Merrifield liked a tweet from Kara Dansky, an author who has called transgender people 香蕉视频直播渁 lie.香蕉视频直播�

Peterson香蕉视频直播檚 original tweet didn香蕉视频直播檛 have to do with transgender people directly, but concerned disciplinary action taken against him by the College of Psychologists of Ontario over public comments he香蕉视频直播檚 made. Peterson said in a column of his own after the fact that he is being accused of being transphobic, among other things.

In her own tweet, Merrifield called the college香蕉视频直播檚 action against Peterson 香蕉视频直播渟cary,香蕉视频直播� adding that 香蕉视频直播渨hen silence is demanded and threats made, democracy ends.香蕉视频直播�

BC Liberal Caucus Press Secretary Andrew Reeve said in a statement Thursday (Jan. 5) that Merrifield doesn香蕉视频直播檛 support Peterson香蕉视频直播檚 views on transgender people, nor his refusal to use gender-neutral pronouns.

But Simon Fraser University sociology professor Travers (who goes only by their last name) said just the action of promoting people like Peterson is dangerous.

香蕉视频直播淚t normalizes anti-trans sentiment,香蕉视频直播� they said in an interview.

The Jan. 1 Dansky tweet Merrifield liked is equally concerning to Travers. In it, Dansky called a U.S. Court of Appeals decision that bans transgender students from using school bathrooms that reflect their chosen identities 香蕉视频直播済reat news.香蕉视频直播� Merrifield has since unliked it.

香蕉视频直播淥nce she saw it being incorrectly interpreted as her opinion with those screenshots circulated by the NDP, she wanted to distance herself from it,香蕉视频直播� Reeve said.

Travers said they don香蕉视频直播檛 believe Merrifield was ignorant to what she was doing by liking the tweet, though.

香蕉视频直播淎nd if they are ignorant, they have no excuse for it. Public officials need to be held to a higher standard.香蕉视频直播�

Concern over Merrifield香蕉视频直播檚 actions was originally brought to light by Chilliwack-Kent NDP MLA Kelli Paddon, who called for the BC Liberal Party to remove Merrifield as gender equity critic.

I香蕉视频直播檓 disgusted to see Kevin Falcon香蕉视频直播檚 critic for Gender Equity and Inclusion promoting transphobic views and defending Jordan Peterson, who is well known for his transphobia and sexism. - please remove as gender equity critic immediately.

香蕉视频直播� Kelli Paddon MLA (@kellipaddon)

The BC Liberal Party has said it will take no such action, though.

In her own response to the criticism, Merrifield tweeted an old clip of her commenting on the Transgender Day of Remembrance and calling her party allies of transgender people.

While the BC NDP attack me personally, I will continue to rise in the legislature and use my platform to advocate for trans rights. #

香蕉视频直播� Renee Merrifield (@ReneeMerrifiel3)

B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon compared the tweet to someone saying they can香蕉视频直播檛 be racist because they know a person of colour.

Ahh yes. 香蕉视频直播淚 read this statement so I can香蕉视频直播檛 be transphobic香蕉视频直播� is kinda of like 香蕉视频直播淚 can香蕉视频直播檛 be racist because I know a guy..香蕉视频直播� Playing to the fringe may help the BC Liberals with their base but it puts us back as a society.

香蕉视频直播� Ravi Kahlon (@KahlonRav)

People online also raised concerns about some of the individuals and organizations Merrifield follows, which use language like 香蕉视频直播渄etransitioners,香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播渆vidence-based care,香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播渁 woman is an adult human female,香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播�#IStandWithJKRowling香蕉视频直播� in their Twitter bios.

Travers said this is all language that indicates transphobic views. 香蕉视频直播淓vidence-based care香蕉视频直播� in particular is used by groups who are against gender-affirming care, which Travers said is all part of a dangerous movement of deliberate misinformation.

香蕉视频直播淚 think people who aren香蕉视频直播檛 really following the discourse won香蕉视频直播檛 understand the significance, because they don香蕉视频直播檛 recognize that there香蕉视频直播檚 a very, very well organized and well funded anti-trans movement.香蕉视频直播�

They said they would be seriously worried if the BC Liberal Party took power and Merrifield was in charge of decisions for gender equity files.

香蕉视频直播淚 find it terrifying, I truly do. Politicians actually have the power to impose policies that are deeply concerning.香蕉视频直播�

The BC Liberal香蕉视频直播檚 press secretary said Merrifield has a long history of supporting gender-affirming care. Black Press Media requested an interview with Merrifield but was directed to the party香蕉视频直播檚 press secretary.

jane.skrypnek@blackpress.ca
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