“Billboard Chris” / Christopher Elston vs. transgender people

Chris Elston is a Canadian anti-transgender activist. Elston is best known for purchasing or wearing signs with anti-transgender messages. Elston gets money and attention by trying to provoke responses from trans and gender-diverse people and their supporters. Elston has been arrested, banned from venues, and involved in numerous legal disputes.

Elston is one of several “parental rights” activists who appear in public holding or wearing anti-transgender signs, including January Littlejohn and “Sidewalk Steve.”

Background

Christopher David Elston was born in 1976. Elston has used a number of nicknames, including

Christoph Elston
Christophe Elston
Chris Elston
Billboard Chris

Elston’s spouse Sheree Lynn (Peacock) Elston earned a bachelor’s degree from Simon Fraser University in 2003, followed by a master’s degree in education from Simon Fraser in 2007. Sheree Elston was a schoolteacher before becoming an administrator at Semiahmoo Trail elementary school in South Surrey, British Columbia. The Elstons have been members of Village Church, an evangelical Christian church with a location in Surrey. Their older child Arya was born in 2010, followed by Mila. Both children are involved in the same local sport.

Scientology

Around age 20, Elston became involved in Scientology while traveling in Ireland. Elston joined the organization’s elite Sea Org, a group of Scientology’s most dedicated members, in March of 1996. Because of that zeal and fervor, Elston was soon assigned to the Church of Scientology’s Saint Hill Manor property in East Grinstead, West Sussex. The location is called Scientology’s Advanced Organization & Saint Hill United Kingdom. It is an 18th-century manor originally purchased by L. Ron Hubbard in 1959 and later renovated as a Scientology museum. Elston was reportedly assigned to run the Hubbard Communications Office (HCO) in the Continental Liaison Office (CLO).

In June 1997, Elston was a witness to the death of 17-year-old Sea Org member Russell Dienes. Elston was part of a car procession hurrying to work at Saint Hill. Dienes pulled in front of an oncoming truck, causing Dienes’ death and the serious injury of teen passengers Thilo Gnass and Frederik Zengel.

Elston remained with Scientology for almost two years:

I joined the Sea Org in March 96, worked their 100 hour weeks and escaped in the middle of the night Dec. 98 when I was told I couldn’t go home on a visit to see my parents. Passport and plane ticket had been seized.

Elston returned to Canada and reportedly was the subject of an “SP Declare,” a document outlining why Scientology designates Elston as a Suppressive Person, or Anti-Social Personality. Elston has been involved in anti-Scientology activism ever since.

Insurance career

After moving to Vancouver, British Columbia, Elston took a job as an investment advisor at Canaccord Capital (later named Canaccord Financial, now called Canaccord Genuity). Elston worked there from 2001 to 2008, then was a Financial Advisor at Raymond James from 2008 to 2014. After founding Elston Insurance Agency in 2014 and selling insurance, Elston began generating significant income and media coverage from anti-transgender activism. After Elston’s insurance license expired in 2022, Elston began doing anti-trans activism full-time.

Anti-transgender activism

Elston pivoted from anti-Scientology activism to anti-transgender activism following several controversies in the Vancouver area.

Jessica Yaniv aka Jessica Simpson

Elston got involved in several controversies related to Jessica Yaniv, now known as Jessica Simpson, a frequent litigant who used anti-discrimination laws to bring numerous complaints against local businesses. Simpson identifies as transgender and brought many complaints against waxing practitioners who would not wax Simpson’s genitals.
In December 2020, the Western Standard reported that the Langley Royal Canadian Mounted Police had charged Simpson with mischief and uttering threats in relation to an incident in October 2020 concerning Elston.

I ♥ JK ROWLING

Elston met nurse and anti-transgender extremist Amy Hamm at a Simpson hearing. They began purchasing billboards with the slogan “I ♥ JK ROWLING,” a reference to British author J. K. Rowling’s anti-transgender activism. British anti-trans extremist Posie Parker had purchased similar out-of-home ads. Elston’s first one was taken down following complaints. Elston got the nickname “Billboard Chris” soon after.

Elston has been arrested for disturbing the peace after showing up to pro-trans events wearing provocative anti-transgender messages like “Gender ideology does not belong in schools,” and “No child is born in the wrong body,” and “Children cannot consent to puberty blockers.” Elston is no longer allowed on the street around the Vancouver art gallery where Elston was arrested.

Elston’s goal is to be verbally or physically assaulted, which has happened several times. Elston then uses video of those encounters to get money and attention.

References

Grochowski, Sarah (October 26, 2020). Man behind controversial J.K. Rowling billboard arrested at Vancouver protest – but not for protesting. Vancouver Is Awesome https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/vancouver-news/man-behind-controversial-jk-rowling-billboard-arrested-at-vancouver-protest-but-not-for-protesting-2823471

UBC Students Against Bigotry (October 24, 2020)

“Christophe Elston, the transphobic insurance agent who hangs out with known fascist “John Southern,” showed up to yesterday’s Mi’kmaw solidarity rally for some reason. He was briefly detained by the VPD, and had his “I ♥ JK Rowling” sandwich board taken away.”

Christophe Elston, the transphobic insurance agent who hangs out with known fascist "John Southern," showed up to yesterday's Mi'kmaw solidarity rally for some reason.

He was briefly detained by the VPD, and had his "I ❤️ JK Rowling" sandwich board taken away. https://t.co/xE6wQlDlGI pic.twitter.com/9fXkuxZapT
— UBC Students Against Bigotry (@ubc_students) October 25, 2020

Slatzism (March 13, 2021). https://twitter.com/Slatzism/status/1370761412008611847

This is another one of Chris Elston's videos. When I saw this, I became extremely uncomfortable with his methods.

Here, he is ACTIVELY PURSUING someone who clearly wants to get away from him.

It does not matter that she is a TRA. This is provocation.pic.twitter.com/zYaUwaQkPh
— pagliacci the hated 🌝 (@Slatzism) March 13, 2021

Naylor, Dave (December 31, 2020). Transgender activist Yaniv wanted by police in BC. The Western Standard. Wildrose Media Corp. [archive] https://www.westernstandardonline.com/2020/12/transgender-actvist-yaniv-wanted-by-police-in-bc/

Naylor, Dave (February 6, 2021). Yaniv accused of calling fire department dozens of times, making lewd remarks. The Western Standard [archive] https://westernstandardonline.com/2021/02/yaniv-accused-of-calling-fire-department-dozens-of-times-making-lewd-remarks/

Cupp, Anne Renner (March 26, 2018). [Scientology discussion page] https://www.facebook.com/groups/1097697983669219/posts/1407298826042465/?comment_id=1407325562706458&reply_comment_id=1408239902615024

“Chris Elston ingratiates himself to people to gather personal information on them and the moment they cross him, it gets splashed across the internet. He’s a known serial offender and it’s always women. Always. Ginger has been hoodwinked by a master at his craft. I was too, once. […] Maybe her new BFF who is a financial advisor should coach her on that, when he’s not too busy harassing other women.”

Hays, Gabriel (April 1, 2023). WATCH: Conservative activist bloodied and bruised at pro-trans rally in Canada: ‘Police did nothing.’ Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/media/watch-conservative-activist-bloodied-bruised-pro-trans-rally-canada-police-did-nothing