Editor's note: This column is an opinion piece, and the views expressed are those of the author. Black Press Media is committed to journalistic integrity, freedom of expression, and Canadian Press standards. We believe in the importance of publishing commentary that reflects lived experience, provokes thoughtful dialogue, and holds public officials accountable. We recognize the right of individuals to their beliefs乌鸦传媒�
At last week乌鸦传媒檚 Okanagan Public Schools board meeting, something unsettling happened乌鸦传媒攏ot in what was said, but in what was left unsaid. During a moment meant to celebrate inclusion, visibility, and artistic contribution, one trustee made a deliberate choice to sit out乌鸦传媒攍iterally.
Tyson Cook, a 14-year employee of the school district and a well-loved public performer known as drag queen Freida Whales, was being recognized by the board for receiving the City of Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 2024 Honour in the Arts Award. It was a significant moment, especially given Cook乌鸦传媒檚 resilience in the face of ongoing harassment from far-right groups like Action4Canada, who乌鸦传媒檝e targeted him simply for being an openly gay man who also happens to perform in drag and promote literacy through family-friendly programming.
When it came time for a group photo with Cook and the trustees, everyone stood乌鸦传媒攅xcept trustee Amy Geistlinger. She remained in her seat, shuffling papers and avoiding the camera, despite being mere steps away. Minutes later, she was smiling in other group photos, showing her selective participation was no accident. I sat in the gallery and watched. It wasn乌鸦传媒檛 subtle. It wasn乌鸦传媒檛 ambiguous. It was a message. And it was disturbing.
Geistlinger乌鸦传媒檚 use of her trustee chair as a pulpit for advancing religious dogma乌鸦传媒攚hat she calls 乌鸦传媒渃onvictions乌鸦传媒澪谘淮綌is beginning to be well documented. For further insight, read about a statement she made publicly at the latest BC School Trustees Association AGM in an expanded version of this column . But her ongoing campaign to marginalize queer and trans people under the guise of 乌鸦传媒渇reedom of belief乌鸦传媒� must be seen for what it is: an abuse of public office.
Following the school board meeting, I reached out to Geistlinger directly to ask why she refused to join the group photo with Cook. She replied:
"Mr. Cook stated that 'Tyson had nothing to do with [the award].' He said that it was his drag queen persona, Freida Whales, that was being recognized, not Tyson Cook as a CEA. Why would we celebrate work unrelated to Board and school district business?
Our schools are welcoming spaces. So long as we are free to celebrate or not celebrate things according to our own convictions, our schools remain safe, inclusive places. If anyone is forced to celebrate something, that is no longer a safe environment."
Let乌鸦传媒檚 unpack that.
While it乌鸦传媒檚 true the award was for Freida Whales乌鸦传媒� artistic work, Tyson Cook乌鸦传媒攖he person behind Freida乌鸦传媒攊s a respected, longtime employee of the school district. It was the board that chose to recognize him at a public meeting, linking his community contributions to the values of the district. Would she have remained seated if it were a student being recognized under the same circumstances?
By refusing to stand in support乌鸦传媒攁nd then using that moment to parse what is and isn't 乌鸦传媒渂oard business乌鸦传媒澪谘淮綌Geistlinger reinforces a dangerous double standard. Would she snub a teacher being recognized for community work in a church? Or a coach winning an award unrelated to school sports? Her response suggests her principles only activate when queerness is involved.
Worse, her notion of a 乌鸦传媒渟afe, inclusive place乌鸦传媒� appears to be one where straight, cisgender, religiously conservative adults feel protected from having to even acknowledge 2SLGBTQIA+ people in public. That乌鸦传媒檚 not inclusion乌鸦传媒攊t乌鸦传媒檚 erasure.
Since I was quoted in a 乌鸦传媒 article about this event (read it here), I乌鸦传媒檝e received a wave of hate-filled messages. People have called me a pervert, immoral, and worse. This is how bigotry gains traction乌鸦传媒攖hrough the actions of officials like Geistlinger who provide it with respectability.
Character is revealed in the moments we choose to stand乌鸦传媒攐r refuse to. Trustee Geistlinger stayed seated during a celebration of a queer educator. Put succinctly, it乌鸦传媒檚 performative exclusion cloaked in conviction.
We must ask: If a trustee cannot show up for all students乌鸦传媒攅specially those already targeted and marginalized乌鸦传媒攄o they belong in the role at all?
But how do we begin to transform this kind of ingrained thinking? As someone who grew up in a fundamentalist Christian environment, I know firsthand how deeply these beliefs are rooted乌鸦传媒攏ot just in doctrine, but in fear, guilt, and shame. They乌鸦传媒檙e taught not simply as values, but as absolutes, reinforced with the terrifying weight of eternal consequences. Even for those who want to question them, it乌鸦传媒檚 a steep and lonely climb. And when these beliefs come bundled with a sense of righteous duty to "save" others, they乌鸦传媒檙e pushed forward at any cost乌鸦传媒攐ften regardless of the trauma or harm they leave in their wake.
Wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 it be something乌鸦传媒攎aybe even a small miracle乌鸦传媒攊f those so determined to preach and judge could instead pause, reflect, and truly listen? If they could sit, without agenda, and hear the lived experiences of those they seek to other? That kind of openness has been known to soften hearts. And sometimes, it乌鸦传媒檚 how minds begin to change.
~ Dr. Wilbur Turner
