How confusing; seems there’s more than candidate in Hanover named Shayne Barkman

A Hanover trustee named Shayne Barkman has emerged as one of Manitoba's most vocal anti-LGBTQ+ advocates, despite his initial unassuming demeanor. Barkman, a trustee in Hanover, Manitoba, ran for the Hanover school board in 2022, but showed no signs that his platform would become so focused on anti-LGBTQ+ issues. Prior to his election, Barkman described himself as a "listening ear" and a voice of reason, hoping to promote understanding in the community.

However, after his election, he shifted his focus to imposing the views of some of his supporters on the entire school division.

In a controversial move, Barkman shared a comic-book style graphic on his Facebook page, created by the far-right activist group Concerned Citizens of Canada. The graphic depicted Barkman as a shield-wielding trustee protecting children from the influence of a gender-nonconforming Health Minister and Education Minister, who are portrayed as puppet masters controlling the school system from behind the scenes.

The graphic claimed that the Health Minister and Education Minister were promoting a "Trans Agenda" that would allow medical transitions and abortions without parental consent or knowledge.

Following the graphic's distribution, MTS, a women's advocacy group, expressed disapproval and Barkman removed the post. However, he has since returned to using a more conciliatory tone on his social media accounts, praising school staff and students without mentioning his anti-LGBTQ+ stance. Critics argue that Barkman's actions align him with harmful forces that threaten the well-being of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.