Two former Vancouver school trustees are now suing their former party the Non Partisan Association as well as an NPA city councilor for defamation.
In a Dec. 17 claim filed in BC Supreme Court, Sophia Woo and Ken Denike say the NPA labeled them as homophobes and intolerant of the LGBTQ+ and gender variant communities.
The two trustees were expelled from the NPA caucus in June following a press conference where they said the Vancouver School Board should delay implementation of a since-approved plan to make gender-neutral washrooms available.
They cited a lack of parental consultation and concerns over property values as reason for deferring the policy.
“Realtors express concern that a revised policy on sexual orientation and gender identities could negatively impact enrolment of international students and West side students in Vancouver’s public schools,” Denike and Woo’s June release read.
The reaction to the press conference was swift and the NPA kicked both Woo and Denike out of the party’s caucus.
“The decision to expel Denike and Woo was necessary given the two have chosen to follow their own course in various matters without consulting members of the Caucus,” the NPA said in a statement after the ousting. “The Caucus has concluded that Denike and Woo do not share the same level of understanding of LGBTQ+ community.”
Woo and Denike’s claim states that remarks made by the NPA implies the two are homophobic, which they say is false.
The suit also names Vancouver City Councillor Elizabeth Ball, who made statements to the media following their expulsion.
After their removal, Denike and Woo both unsuccessfully ran for reelection under the Vancouver First banner in November’s civic election.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
