A Chilliwack school trustee has shared controversial content on Facebook. You’ve heard that one many times before, but this time it’s Teri Westerby taking heat for sharing a meme that comes off as anti-Christian.
The meme celebrates the new Barbie movie for its left-leaning themes. A pink steamroller labelled Barbie, with a pride-coloured roller, is shown chasing a group of people that are labelled traditional family, Christian values and sanctity of marriage. People in the cab of the steamroller, including the driver, appear to be very happy.
Westerby, who became the first openly trans man elected to a school board in Canada in October 2022, shared the meme on his personal Facebook page last week. It’s a variation on the one seen below that was created to accompany a quote by the late reverend Jerry Falwell, who said, “If we do not act now, homosexuals will own America! If you and I do not speak up now, this homosexual steamroller will literally crush all decent men, women and children who get in its way… and our nation will pay a terrible price!”
Chilliwack school board chair Willow Reichelt suggested the Barbie meme that Westerby shared wasn’t literally suggesting violence against Christians any more than Falwell’s Gayroller was literally going to steamroll decent men, women and children. She said it was intended to poke fun at online commentators who are upset at the Barbie movie’s feminist message.
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“If you know the history of the meme, you know that the intent is not to advocate crushing traditional values but to point out the absurdity of saying that the Barbie movie has that power,” Reichelt said. “However, if you do not know the meme’s history, it’s understandable that the image could be hurtful. I apologize on behalf of the board, and I want to offer my assurance that Christians and other people of faith are welcome and supported in this district.
“The Chilliwack School District embraces families of all religious faiths (and no faith) and recognizes that different families have different values. We strive to create learning spaces where people of all different backgrounds can come together and treat each other with respect.”
Westerby could not be reached for comment.
In the past, right-leaning members of the Chilliwack school board, most notably former trustee Barry Neufeld, have taken heat for sharing anti-SOGI and anti-LGBTQ2 content on social media. Current/longtime trustee Heather Maahs said she is “deeply concerned that any trustee elected to represent the entire community would depict some members of this city in such an egregious manner.
“It makes me wonder, do some of my colleagues believe that people who uphold traditional family and Christian/religious values etc. need to be “steamrolled” or destroyed?” she said. “The same board censured me this past year for a meeting where the chair disallowed public comment and cut microphones, yet decided I was responsible for the public’s reaction, but now the chair supports this trustee when it comes to denigrating a large demographic of this community?”
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