Pamphlet challenging P.E.I. school system's gender guidelines called 'misinformation'

Pam Atkinson of Charlottetown says she was surprised to receive a mysterious envelope in the mail with big black all-capital letters on the front that read: "ATTENTION PARENTS." 

Inside was a pamphlet outlining concerns about what it called "radical gender ideology" in the provincial curriculum, starting out with the headline: "Did you know? Parental consent is no longer required in P.E.I. schools!" 

The one-page handout went on to raise concerns that "third parties" are sharing "sexually explicit experiences" and organizations are exposing children to "multiple genders and alternative sexuality." The pamphlet urges parents to contact Premier Dennis King, the minister and deputy minister of education, and their local MLA, listing their email addresses.

Atkinson is the parent of two children, aged five and seven. She fully supports what is being taught to her children with regard to gender diversity.

"Once I read it, I was really quite upset and angry about the misinformation and the really explicit things that they are talking about in it that are really untrue," said Atkinson.

"It talks about third parties being able to share sexually explicit videos to kids as young as kindergartners — and really, that is not the case. Any kind of third party that is going in to do a presentation has been authorized by the school board. They are trusted organizations that have been working to support and protect vulnerable people in our population for decades."

In a statement, the P.E.I. Department of Education told CBC News any such videos would not be in line with the province's curriculum.

CBC News reached out to the people behind the pamphlet — a group called P.E.I. Parents.

The group wouldn't agree to any of its members doing an interview, but spokesperson Laura Braden agreed to answer questions via email.

She said about 9,000 pamphlets were distributed randomly to households across P.E.I., paid for by her group, which she said includes about 50 people living on the Island.

"Like everyone, we want all children to feel safe and comfortable at schools, which is why we advocate for neutral ground and for schools to remain based on education and not on social or moral issues," Braden wrote. 

"We believe that parents should look after moral, religious and cultural beliefs, not the schools."

This is not the first time that message has been distributed on P.E.I. A similar document was sent out in the mail and left on vehicle windshields a year ago. 

And last September, hundreds of people took to the streets in Charlottetown to take part in a demonstration and counter-demonstration around inclusion in Island schools.