Hundreds attend duelling protests in
Calgary about gender, sexuality
education in schools
The demonstration is one of dozens that took place in cities across Canada on Wednesday, alongside several counter-protests
Author of the article:Michael Rodriguez
Published Sep 20, 2023 •
Hundreds of people filled a downtown Calgary street on Wednesday morning, participating in conflicting protests about how schools teach children about gender and sexual diversity.
The demonstration was part of the 1 Million March 4 Children, a nationwide rally against sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) education, which promotes inclusivity and understanding of LGBTQ+ students in public schools. Calgarians on both sides of the issue lined downtown’s 4th Avenue in front of the Harry Hays Building.
The roughly 500 protesters — primarily comprising parents and socially conservative groups — demonstrated against queer-inclusive education policies under the banner of parental rights. The protest’s national organizers have said they’re “advocating for Canadian children’s rights against unnecessary gender ideologies.”
“I believe the system now is bullying us, and bullying our kids especially, and they’re trying to push things into our kids’ throats by promoting this SOGI and sexual orientation,” said local organizer Mahmoud Mourra.
“We want the system to be neutral; don’t promote Islamic values, don’t promote Christian values or Judaism values. Leave our kids free from all the ideology.”
Mourra, who’s organized similar but smaller-scale weekly protests at city hall throughout the summer via his YYC Muslims Facebook group, is facing a charge of hate-motivated criminal harassment. Calgary police have said the charge stems from allegations related to “multiple online interactions” in June, which Mourra dismissed as a dispute with somebody he knew. His next court date is Friday.
The Calgary demonstration featured a speech from street preacher Artur Pawlowski — who was sentenced for his role in COVID-19 protests at the Coutts border crossing earlier this week — before the group marched through downtown. The demonstration appeared to have grown in size by the time it mobilized, with upwards of 1,000 participants.
LGBTQ+ community, allies criticize demonstration as hateful
Around 150 counter-protesters stationed themselves on the south side of 4th Avenue as the protest began, with some saying the demonstration was “fuelled by hate” and misinformation. They say inclusive education isn’t pushing anything onto children or “bullying” them into changing their gender identity.
“The idea that anyone is ‘coming for their kids’ is ridiculous. It’s just about making sure if you are a trans kid or gay or anything, that you do feel safe,” said El McCutcheon.
“Obviously, if these are your parents, you’re probably not going to feel safe. It’s this weird catch-22 where the only people that need to be protected from these people are these people’s kids.”
Mourra pointed the finger back at the other side, calling them hypocrites for inferring that the parents and other concerned groups acted out of hate.
“It’s not about hate. It’s about understanding. We want the bridges to be built,” he said, adding that since he started organizing protests, he’s received several hateful, Islamaphobic messages. “We have nothing against them other than one request: the kids should be left alone. I’m not saying to force my ideologies on the kids, but don’t force your ideology on my kids.
Other counter-protesters criticized the noble-sounding but vague “save our children” rhetoric used by the demonstrators as a covert way to draw in some parents who may not know precisely what they’re involving themselves in.
“If they wanted to actually protect the kids, as they say, they would want their kids to grow old and be safe and loved just as they are. But this message of ‘leave our kids alone’ is nothing new,” said Gillian Francis, noting similarly veiled attacks against the queer community were used during the AIDS crisis and many anti-LGBTQ+ movements. “It’s all retired rhetoric, essentially.”
Mayor says she was ‘swarmed’ by protesters
The Alberta Teachers’ Association said all students deserve to feel safe at school. But the teachers’ union noted an alarming increase in attacks on sexual and gender-diverse students and school staff, saying they “must be stopped.”
“Using ‘parental consent’ as camouflage, this rally was part of a co-ordinated strike across North America to promote misinformation, intolerance and hate toward the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, as well as toward teachers who work to protect the safety and well-being of all students,” said ATA president Jason Schilling, noting the protesters have misrepresented what SOGI education is.
“SOGI education is intended to ensure that sexual and diverse students and families feel safe in schools by ensuring that all students gain a better understanding of how different students identify.”
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Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan also put out a statement against the protests — as many unions nationwide have — calling them as a political tactic led by “shadowy, far-right operatives” looking for free publicity for their “toxic and hateful fringe ideas.”
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek had a run-in with the demonstrators early Wednesday.
“This morning, so-called ‘save our children’ protestors swarmed my vehicle. The level of hate was chilling,” she said in a post on X Wednesday afternoon. “It did not shake my resolve to stand with 2SLGBTQ+ kids and their families. Calgary is a place of love and inclusion. Your hatred has no home here.”
Earlier in the day, Gondek told reporters she believes in people’s right to protest but “advocating for hate against certain groups” is not right.
“The world is in a very tenuous position right now. I would ask that people start practicing some love,” she said.
Provincial politicians weigh in
Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley also blasted the protests as a political endeavour to stoke fear and spread misinformation for political gain.
“They seek to divide us and spread fear when we should be embracing love and compassion,” said Notley. “Let’s be perfectly clear — if one group’s human rights are cast aside, more will follow. Those who seek to normalize trans hate will then move on to racism and misogyny. We can’t let that happen.
“All human rights must be protected.”
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she was aware of the protests and encouraged participants to be peaceful, but did not take a side.
“I ask that all protesters, regardless of what their position is on these delicate issues, exercise their right of free speech peacefully and to encourage their fellow Canadians to do the same,” she said in a post on X.
However, Smith’s MLA for Red Deer-South, Jason Stephan, appeared at the rally in that city, speaking in favour of the nationwide demonstrations.
He spoke just before Monique LaGrange, an area school board trustee who landed herself in hot water earlier this month after a controversial social media post. In the post, she compared a photo of youth in Nazi Germany to one of kids holding Pride flags, commenting, “Brainwashing is brainwashing.”
— With files from The Canadian Press and Kevin Martin
mrodriguez@postmedia.com
X: @MichaelRdrguez
ALBERTA FEDERATION OF LABOUR
STATEMENT ON 2SLGBTQIA+ RIGHTS
Yesterday’s anti-2SLGBTQIA+ events are a political tactic.
The shadowy, far-right operatives who are behind these events want free publicity for their toxic and hateful fringe ideas – ideas which would otherwise be confined to the darkest corners of the internet.
Even more importantly, they want to stir up progressive Canadians in order to leave the impression that all we think and care about are 2SLGBTQIA+ issues.
They want this because polls show that a large number of Canadians, while being supportive of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and especially 2SLGBTQIA+ kids, also think that our left and centre-left parties spend too much time on these issues – at the expense of other issues like the economy and the cost of living.
Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. Progressives can champion both human rights and a strong, fair economy at the same time.
But that’s what the organizers of these horrible events are going for. That’s what this is really about.
It’s a cynical effort to gain a political advantage for conservative parties. And they would happily unleash hatred against some of our most vulnerable citizens to get it.
To say this is morally reprehensible is an understatement.
But, we see what’s going on. We also see the people pulling the strings.
And where is the UCP on this issue? In their leadership race, Danielle Smith played footsy with the same people organizing and participating in these anti-2SLGBTQIA+ events. Danielle Smith mandated her Minister of Arts, Culture, and Status of Women to “continuing to support and engage with members of Alberta’s Francophone and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.” But, there's been nothing but silence from the UCP. In this case, silence can be seen as support.
So, today, I’m going to join the counter protests. Many of us from the Alberta labour movement will proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with our fellow Canadians from coast to coast to coast to send the message that our schools should be safe places for all kids, regardless of their sexual orientation or their gender identity.
I’m also going to support CUPE Alberta’s “Purple Shirt Day” demanding raises for educational assistants who currently make less than people working at McDonald’s. They need a raise so we can attract and retain the staff we need to help our kids thrive.
And, I’m also going to jump on Zoom and make a presentation to a parliamentary committee examining the issue of the unfolding global energy transition. I’m going to tell our Members of Parliament that if we don’t prepare for the future, we’ll get left behind. And I’m going to tell them that denial is not a plan.
The extreme right is playing dangerous political games with the safety of our kids.
Let’s shut them down by showing our fellow Canadians -- every day and in everything we do -- that the progressive high road is always better than the regressive low road on every issue – from human rights to public services to the economy and to the environment.
We will never let hate win. Solidarity.
You can read Gil McGowan's column on the protest at the Tyee here.
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