Lawyers against Transphobia succeeded in cancelling a private booking of a film scheduled to be played at Vernon’s Cineplex theatre.
The theatre was rented for June 15 by a group called the FreedomNetwork to show “The War on Children.”
The film claims that transgender children are harmed by medical care for their gender dysphoria, even though the care is provided according to well-established guidelines of medical practice.
“We pointed out to Cineplex their legal obligations as a theatre owner,” Kylie Walman, a member of Lawyers against Transphobia and a well-known Vernon lawyer, said. “And we pointed out that to permit the film to run would be contrary to the values of inclusion that Cineplex supports, and would be particularly bad press for Cineplex in Pride Month.”
In a statement to Global News, a Cineplex representative supported that view.
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“We made the decision to cancel the private screening out of respect and in support of PRIDE month and the 2SLGBTQI+ community,” a statement from the company read.
According to its website, FreedomNetwork already played “The War on Children” in Salmon Arm, and Pitt Meadows and Campbell River shows are pending.
Walman said that Lawyers against Transphobia will be writing to each of those theatres to explain their legal obligations under the BC Human Rights Code with respect to a showing of a film that harms a marginalized community.
“We would expect those theatres to follow Cineplex’s lead,” said Walman. “Otherwise of course we would follow up with legal action.”
Wilbur Turner, founder and president of Advocacy Canada, said he was pleased to hear the film didn’t run in Vernon, and has concerns that it’s causing harm to a community that’s already at risk.
“It targets vulnerable populations, so it sets up people to be attacked by portraying this in a negative light,” he said.
“It increases anxiety and depression and suicidal ideation among LGBTQ youth. It really undermines public education. It’s undermining comprehensive sex education and inclusive policies in schools and it promotes promotes a harmful agenda.”
In general, Turner said it’s part of a broader agenda to roll back rights and protections for LGBTQ2 people.
“It’s really amplifying extremist voices so when venues platform and allow the films to be screened in their venues. They are actually amplifying this platform of hate,” he said.