The President of the North Peace Pride Society (NPPS) in British Columbia has been arrested and charged with several child-related sexual offenses. Sean Gravells, a longstanding leader of the LGBT activist group, was arrested on January 1 and faced charges involving sexual interference, sexual exploitation, and possession and distribution of child pornography. The offenses were alleged to have occurred near Fort St. John, in British Columbia.
The authorities have confirmed that Gravells was released on $2,000 bail after his initial court appearance and is expected back in court for an arraignment hearing at the end of January.
Despite Gravells’ pivotal role in the NPPS, the organization’s public announcement of his dismissal glossed over the specifics of the charges and refrained from stating that he had been their president for 18 years. Instead, they referred to the charges as “severe” and “inconsistent with the North Peace Pride Society’s mission and code of conduct,” and described Gravells as “one of our board members.”
The muted reaction of the NPPS, amid the LGBT movement’s growing focus on involving children in LGBT “pride” parades and endorsing the LGBT agenda in schools, has raised eyebrows. The charges against their former president highlight pressing concerns about child safety within the context of such events and initiatives.