A Canadian school board’s decision to ban books about gay and lesbian parents from kindergarten classrooms has been overturned by the British Columbia Supreme Court - on the grounds of religious freedom.
James Chamberlain, a gay kindergarten teacher working in the Surrey school district, and others sued the board over its decision that three books, including One Dad Two Dads Brown Dad Blue Dad were inappropriate for young children.
Madam Justice Mary Saunders ruled that the board had violated British Columbia’s School Act and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms by giving weight to parental concern that the books conflicted with religious views. This was contrary to the requirement that schools be conducted on strictly secular principles.
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