Ottawa parents are criticizing woke public school trustee Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth for wanting to ban protests against gender ideology near schools.

Kaplan-Myrth’s demand comes amid three protests against gender ideology at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board taking place in the past week; including one organized by prominent parental rights advocate Chris Elston (Billboard Chris) and student activist Josh Alexander – which was attended by many people of diverse backgrounds, including Muslims.

In an op-ed published in the Ottawa-Citizen, Kaplan-Myrth said the well-attended protest “shows it’s time to create ‘safe zones’ around Ottawa schools.”

“A transphobic organizer held a rally outside three schools (Broadview Public School, Nepean High School and Notre Dame Catholic School),” wrote Kaplan-Myrth. “Whereas he pulled this stunt in 2021 and was chased out by students, parents and community advocates, this year he had an entourage of more anti-LGBTQ protesters.”

“Today we appeal to all levels of government to create ‘safe zones’ around schools, to make it an offence in the vicinity of schools to hold protests that target or intimidate students and staff on the basis of their gender identity, sexuality, race, religion or other protected categories under applicable human rights legislation.”

Kaplan-Myrth added that “we must not allow groups that are organized around hate to intimidate or harass students or staff inside schools or in the vicinity of schools.”

In her op-ed, she also shared opposition to bills in the United States that seek to prevent biological males from participating in women’s sports and to require those receiving life-altering gender transitions to be over the age of 18.

Kaplan-Myrth has also launched a petition on Change.org demanding that her “safe-zones” be put in place.

Her push to ban protests is, however, not sitting well with Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) parents.

One mother who attended the protest against gender ideology told True North, “we are not protesting the LGBT, but we are standing up for our children and protecting them from the gender ideology indoctrination that the OCDSB is forcing and promoting.” 

“While the LGBT have rights under the Canadian Charter, all Canadians also have the right to religious freedom under the same Charter. Our religious freedoms do not end where the LGBT rights begin.” 

Another mother told True North she was “appalled by the false narrative and hateful rhetoric towards conservatives and faith communities.”

“In the past months, the OCDSB board and all levels of Government have labelled everyone they don’t agree with as far-right extremists, as hateful, intolerant, transphobic bigots, just to name a few,” added the mother. “As a right-of-centre conservative, Evangelical Christian, former Manager of Diversity and Inclusion and graduate in work psychology, I believe their approach only leads to more division.”

“Dr. Kaplan-Myrth needs to be reminded that the right to peaceful protest is for all Canadians, not only people she agrees with, and that religious freedoms must be respected. Shaming and cancel culture only produces harm.”

Another parent told True North that while he believes “something should be in place so that students are not intimidated while at school by protesters regardless of their position on a topic” – freedom of expression must also be protected.

The father added that he supports the LGBTQ community, but objects to the teaching of gender ideology in schools. 

“As someone with friends in the LGBTQ community, I do stand with that community. However, I do not condone having talks about gender reassignment surgeries and other such topics with children.”

“Children’s minds are easily influenced and if governments make it easier for kids to get this information and then act on it, these children might make a decision they later regret. It’s one thing to get a tattoo at 16 behind your parents back that you regret at 30. It’s totally different to completely destroy one’s body and then regret it later in life.”

The father believes “we must reinforce the point that schools are to be a place of education and education only,” adding that “by bringing a politically hot button topic into schools the way it currently has been takes away from the educational foundations our children need.”

In addition to being criticized by parents, Kaplan-Myrth was criticized by lawyer Ryan O’Connor, who said her proposed law would be unconstitutional.

Like many other public school boards in Ontario – the OCDSB has embraced wokism, gender ideology as well as “Equity, Diversity and Inclusion” (EDI) ideology.

In an email obtained by The Epoch Times, the OCDSB suggested that teachers should use “they/them” neopronouns for all students until students tell them “their preferred pronouns.” The email also said LGBTQ teachings should be embedded in the “overall learning environment” and are not “open to debate or selective participation.”

Along with other OCDSB trustees, Kaplan-Myrth has been very supportive of gender ideology. 

In addition to counter protesting concerned parents alongside Antifa last Friday, she silenced a father worried about biological males in girls’ washrooms at a school board meeting, and successfully lobbied Change.org to shut down community petitions demanding her resignation. 

Kaplan-Myrth also tried and failed to impose mandatory medical masking on OCDSB students, teachers and staff earlier in the school year.

True North reached out to Kaplan-Myrth for comment, but she did not respond in time for publication.

Author

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR