The BC Human Rights Commissioner has written a public letter to her premier alleging the million-man march is fueled by hate and causes fear..Kasari Govender wrote to B.C. NDP Premier David Eby Tuesday on the official letterhead of the office of the commission..“In response to the wave of anti-trans…actions that we are seeing across British Columbia, I write to urge you to take action against hate in our province. News of hate-fueled marches planned in several communities has many of us feeling scared for our children and our schools. Now is the time to take action to address the campaigns of misinformation and organized hate that give rise to marches like these.”.Govender said she was making her assessment in alignment with the responsibilities of her office..“It is my statutory responsibility to act as an impartial, nonpartisan advocate for the promotion and protection of human rights in BC. Alarmed by a rise in hate during the pandemic, I used the powers of the Human Rights Commissioner under Section 47.15 of the Human Rights Code to launch a nearly two-year public inquiry into both the causes and solutions to hate,” she explained..“I heard from thousands of British Columbians and dozens of community organizations, and I collected information about hate from over 50 government ministries, local governments, police departments, courts, school districts, social media companies and transportation agencies.”.The report by Govender, released in March, said 62% of sexual minority students felt unsafe at school, compared to 11% of cisgender or heterosexual students..“I found that a lack of data on hate incidents is impeding action, that the legal system and government responses to hate have been largely ineffective, and that community solutions can be successful when they receive adequate funding and centralized coordination,” she wrote in the letter..The commissioner reminded the premier the Ministry of the Attorney General had pledged an interim report at the end of September to show how the government was putting her recommendations in action. She said if it was inadequate, she might report back to the legislative assembly to make MLAs aware..“The wave of increased anti-SOGI rhetoric we have seen in recent weeks further proves that we cannot afford to wait to address the rise in hate occurring in our province. I applaud the thousands of British Columbians —especially the young people — who are standing up against hate, and I commit to pursuing systemic change to the full extent of my powers,” Govender wrote..“In recent years, trans people have become the focus of a surge of defamation, conspiracy theories and hate, but these rallies are not only about hate on the basis of gender identity’ they are an affront to human dignity, expression, and rights for all of us. When we stand together against anti-trans hate, we stand together against all hate.”.The letter did not ring true to traditional values advocate Kari Simpson of Langley, BC. In an interview with the Western Standard, Simpson said the commissioner’s comments were “completely out of line” given her obligation to be non-partisan..“I am filing a complaint against the BC Human Rights Commissioner for promoting hatred and inciting contempt for identifiable groups including Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, parents, everybody.”.Asked who she was complaining to, she said with a laugh, she would send it to the commission itself..“She'll get fired. I'll be found in favor. No, this is just too blatant. It's just ridiculous. She has been triggered,” Simpson said..“She can't survive this, right?”
