Canadian free-speech and child-safety advocate, Chris Elston, better known as Billboard Chris, has had a busy year.

Chris was under attack by the Australian government over social media posts he’d made in February of last year, in which he criticized the World Health Organization’s (WHO) appointment of transgender activist Teddy Cook to a global advisory panel.

Chris, a father of two, has gained international recognition in recent years for his campaign against gender ideology, often wearing sandwich boards with messages like “Children cannot consent to puberty blockers.”

His February 2024 post was linked to a Daily Mail article titled “Kinky secrets of a UN trans expert REVEALED,” which questioned Cook’s suitability for the WHO role due to her public advocacy and personal history. Chris referred to Cook, a female who identifies as male, using biologically accurate pronouns, prompting Cook to file a complaint with Australia’s eSafety Commissioner.

The Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, deemed the post “cyber abuse” under the Online Safety Act 2021 and ordered X to remove it, threatening a $525,000 (USD) fine for non-compliance. X responded by geo-blocking the post in Australia while also appealing the order with Chris. The Administrative Review Tribunal’s hearing, held between March 31st and April 4th, concluded that Chris’s post did not constitute “cyber abuse” or intend to cause serious harm.

The tribunal found the post was part of a legitimate political discussion, protected under Australia’s implied constitutional right to free political communication. “The post, although phrased offensively, is consistent with views Mr. Elston has expressed elsewhere,” the tribunal stated, emphasizing that ‘offense alone does not justify censorship’ – a lesson Canada is still unwilling to learn.

The decision was hailed as a triumph by Chris, stating, “I’m grateful that truth and common sense have prevailed. This sends a clear message that the government does not have authority to silence peaceful expression.”

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International’s Paul Coleman called it “a decisive win for free speech,” noting the Australian government’s attempt to censor a Canadian citizen on an American-owned platform highlights the overreach of censorial forces.

The U.S. House Judiciary Committee recently criticized Australia’s eSafety Commissioner for collaborating with the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, a World Economic Forum-linked group accused of suppressing dissenting voices under subjective standards like “hate speech” or “misinformation.” The U.S. State Department also condemned the Commissioner’s actions in May, citing a trend of coercive censorship.

Despite this victory, concerns remain with Australia’s Online Safety Act, which allows censorship based on subjective offense. Legal experts, including the Human Rights Law Alliance (HRLA) representative John Steenhof, argue that such laws chill free expression by making it costly and risky to speak out. Chris’s case, while a win, underscores the continued global fight to protect open debate on divisive issues like gender ideology.

“Billboard Chris” continues his efforts, remaining a prominent figure in the global debate over gender ideology, focusing on the risks associated with gender-affirming medical treatments for minors. Chris is currently in the UK, attending a conference to educate young lawyers about gender ideology.

We stand with Chris Elston, in all of his efforts to force open discussion and shed light on the very real concerns over ‘gender-affirming’ care for underage youth. Freedom of speech must prevail if we are to have any meaningful discussions about the welfare of our society.

Our children are the most valuable resource of our future and deserve our protection.

If you want to read more or donate, you can visit Chris’s website by clicking here