British comedy icon John Cleese, 86, has decided to exclude British Columbia from his upcoming Canadian theater tour, citing concerns over potential prosecution for criticizing gender ideology.
Cleese shared his decision in a recent social media post, reacting to a $750,000 penalty imposed on former Chilliwack school trustee Barry Neufeld. Neufeld faced the fine for publicly challenging the province’s stance that gender is a social construct determined by individual declaration.
Tribunal Ruling Details
On February 18, the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal ordered Neufeld to pay the substantial sum to a group of transgender teachers. The 143-page decision highlighted Neufeld’s view that separating gender identity from biological sex constitutes a fiction and an ideology to oppose. Tribunal members described his statements as “extremely serious and damaging” speech amounting to transgender erasure.
Neufeld, a longtime Chilliwack School District trustee, was an early opponent of integrating gender identity into provincial school curricula. The B.C. Teachers Federation initiated the case, but the ruling extends beyond his trustee role, potentially applying to anyone in B.C. expressing similar opinions under the Human Rights Code.
“A person does not need to believe in Christianity to accept that another person is Christian. However, to accept that a person is transgender, one must accept that their gender identity is different than their sex assigned at birth,” the tribunal decision states.
Cleese’s Reaction and Past Comments
“What a pity! I’m arranging a theatrical tour of Canada this Fall, and now I won’t be able to risk doing any shows in British Columbia,” Cleese wrote. “I was really looking forward to coming.”
Cleese has previously satirized self-identified gender policies. In 2020, he posted: “Deep down, I want to be a Cambodian police woman. Is that allowed, or am I being unrealistic?”
Precedents and Cleese’s B.C. History
The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has pursued cases against non-residents and performers. In 2011, comedian Guy Earle was ordered to pay $15,000 to an audience member who claimed lasting harm from his comedy routine.
A Monty Python founder and creator of the sitcom Fawlty Towers, Cleese has frequently visited B.C. He sold out multiple Vancouver shows in 2013 during his “Last Time To See Me Before I Die” tour and returned in 2022 for “An Evening of Exceptional Silliness.” During a 2014 book tour stop, he praised Vancouver: “God I love this city. It’s wonderful to have the sea around you… and wonderful Chinese food. It’s just a great place.”
