By Staff The Canadian Press
Posted September 19, 2023
Protests and counter-protests for and against Canada’s trans and LGBTQ community are being planned across Canada on Wednesday.
Posters created by a group called “1MillionMarch4Children” say rally participants are “standing together against gender ideology in schools,” which is a reference to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity programs being taught in B.C.’s public schools.
Sarah Worthman, an LGBTQ advocate who is helping organize at least 63 counter-protests across the country, said Canadians need to stand up for the community outside of Pride events.
“Allyship is a verb,” she said, as she called on supporters to stand in solidarity with LGBTQ folks who have increasingly been the subject of hate and political debate by attending the No Space for Hate events.
“There’s this small but vocal minority of far-right individuals who constantly think they’re the majority, and that everyone shares their views,” Worthman said.
She said she hopes the planned counter-protests can help show most Canadians are generally supportive, while countering hateful messaging they expect from protesters.
“Doing these small things shows there is social pushback,” she said. “There is real danger in all of this.”
British Columbia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Kasari Govender, called the anti-LGBTQ marches “hate-fuelled” and said while peaceful demonstration protects democracy and generates debate, the human rights of the trans and LGBTQ community “is not up for debate.”
She said in a statement Tuesday that an inquiry by her office showed almost two-thirds of LGBTQ students don’t feel safe at school, compared with 11 per cent of heterosexual students, and attempts to erase them from school curriculums are hateful.
Worthman said politicians, too, “should be louder” about their support for the LGBTQ community, and against individuals who seek to further marginalize members.
Clint Johnston, the president of the BC Teachers’ Federation, wrote a letter to B.C. Premier David Eby about the union’s concerns about the planned protests.
He said they’re part of a co-ordinated attack against the trans and LGBTQ community.
“These rallies are part of a movement across North America that uses ‘parental consent’ as a dog whistle for rising homophobia and transphobia. This movement is concerning and must be stopped,” he said in the letter.
In response, the premier said school must be a place where every student feels secure and it’s upsetting to see misinformation and disinformation used to attack vulnerable children and youth.
“Without hesitation, I denounce threats, hate and violence against 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. We are seeing a concerning rise in incidents where trans people are being targeted with threats and violence in person and online,” Eby said in the statement.
“We cannot and must not stand idly by in the face of any kind of bullying. Any political leader who targets our most vulnerable, at-risk children and youth is no leader at all.”
A statement from the City of Whitehorse said it is aware of a march planned for Sept. 20 in the Yukon city, and anti-LGBTQ messaging that targets community members will not be tolerated.
Bylaw officers in Whitehorse are also aware of the planned march as a counter-protest and the city said RCMP will be monitoring.
Govender said in a statement that those who want to “protect” children by removing school-based supports for gay, bisexual, trans and other students are misinformed.
“As a parent, I plead with those who may think they are protecting their children: Erasing LGBTQ2SAI+ people from our curriculum will not change your child’s identity, but it will make schools, and the LGBTQ2SAI+ people in them, less safe,” she said.
Trans people have become the focus of a “surge of disinformation, conspiracy theories and hate,” Govender said.
“This is not only about hate on the basis of gender identity; these rallies are an affront to human dignity, expression and rights for all of us,” she said
A letter from Govender to Eby, urged him to release details about the effectiveness of 12 recommendations Govender’s office submitted to the province in March.
The recommendations flowed from a public inquiry that examined reports of hate in B.C. and provide a “road map of how to take tangible and transformative action against hate,” Govender said
Alison Sandstrom
CTVNewsKitchener.ca Digital Content Producer
Updated Sept. 20, 2023
There are hundreds of people in Carl Zehr Square in downtown Kitchener, protesting for and against LGBTQ2S+ inclusive education.
Demonstrations, under the banner “1 Million March 4 Children,” are planned in cities across Canada today. According to the group’s website, they are advocating for the elimination of what they call “sexual orientation and gender identity curriculum, pronouns, gender ideology and mixed bathrooms” in schools.
Counter protests have been organized in response.
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Cross-country rallies against 'gender ideology' in schools met with counter-protests
Multiple groups including the City of Kitchener and the Waterloo Region District School Board released statements yesterday expressing solidarity with LGBTQ2S+ people ahead of the protests.
“Unfortunately, underlying some of the motivations behind these demonstrations are hate and inaccuracies about what is happening in schools," the school board said. "We continue to focus on creating inclusive, safe spaces, and ensuring the well-being of all students and staff… especially those most marginalized."
As of 10 a.m., there are hundreds of people in Carl Zehr Square on both sides.
Police are keeping the two groups separated.
Protests against teaching gender diversity in schools planned across B.C.
Counter-rallies also expected in some communities
Protests against schools teaching children about gender and sexual diversity are planned to take place across B.C. Wednesday.
Posters created by a group, called 1 Million March 4 Children, say participants are "standing together against gender ideology in schools" — which, in B.C., references Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) programs being taught in public schools.
Similar events are planned across Canada today, with some parents and socially conservative groups protesting LGBTQ-inclusive education policies in the classroom and in extracurricular settings under the banner of parental rights.
But critics and researchers say the term "parental rights" is a misnomer because it doesn't address the concerns of LGBTQ parents or parents of LGBTQ children.
Counter-rallies are also expected in some communities.
There is no specific SOGI curriculum in B.C., however K-12 students have subjects around human rights, respecting diversity, and responding to discrimination.
"Teachers may include discussions around the B.C. Human Rights Code, sexual orientation and gender identity," the provincial government's website says.
Parents can also arrange for alternative ways to educate children about "sensitive topics related to reproduction and sexuality," including learning about them at home or through self-directed studies. This does not mean students can opt out of studying those subjects.
"It is expected that students will, in consultation with their school, demonstrate their knowledge of the learning standard(s) have arranged to address by alternative means," the website reads.
Bullying claims
In an interview with CBC News, David Low, one of the organizers of a rally against SOGI programs in Prince George, B.C., claimed children were being "bullied" by teachers into changing their pronouns.
Low, who unsuccessfully ran for school board in by-elections earlier this year — losing to two candidates who explicitly endorsed SOGI — said he worries children are being pushed towards getting body-altering surgery without parental knowledge.
He also said he has heard stories of children identifying as a "kitty cat."
The rumour that there are children or teachers identifying as cats in classrooms is one that has often been cited by opponents of sexual and gender education programs, and has repeatedly been denied by school boards across North America.
"It's one thing to say, well, we have various people who have different feelings about sexuality," Low said.
"It's a different thing to teach everybody that it is perfectly normal, and that you [the student] should look into that, if it's applicable to you."
Protests seem driven by misinformation: teachers federation
Clint Johnston, president of the B.C. Teachers' Federation, said much of the support for the protests seem to be driven by disinformation and misinformation about what is happening in classrooms.
"This [SOGI] is a program that's been running successfully for a long time … supported by every one of the major political parties in British Columbia," he said.
"It is just very frustrating to continue to see this type of activity happening based on what are just factually incorrect assertions and misunderstandings."
He said he's heard claims that teachers are trying to influence children to "change" genders.
"Nothing could be further from the truth," Johnston said.
"There is no influence on students to do anything other than to learn to be themselves and to be comfortable with themselves and to be comfortable with everyone in their school around them.
"And to understand that there are differences in each of those people around them and how to live together and support each other to be happy and healthy."
Mikara Pettman, a social worker in 100 Mile House in the Interior — about 353 kilometres northwest of Kelowna — started Cariboo Gender Support in 2016, where parents of trans, non-binary, two-spirit and other gender-diverse children can access support and resources.
Pettman said while children tend to be quite knowledgeable in terms of the gender spectrum, the lack of education around gender diversity historically has led to a lot of confusion now for parents.
"Really it's a shock," she told Daybreak Kamloops host Shelley Joyce. "Especially of course if parents are cisgender, meaning that they were assigned a gender at birth and it fit for them and they've grown up, which is many of us."
But people like her are trying to change that, she said.
"We've come to a place as a society and a culture where we're being more inclusive and understanding," she said, "and that's really good news."
Leaders condemn 'hate-fuelled marches'
B.C. Premier David Eby posted a letter on social media on Tuesday raising concerns about the planned protests and denouncing hate toward LGBTQ communities.
"It's upsetting and distressing to see misinformation and disinformation used to attack some of our most vulnerable children and youth," he wrote.
B.C. Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender says she is disturbed by what she calls "hate-fuelled marches.''
In a statement, Govender says peaceful demonstration protects democracy and generates debate, but the human rights of the trans and LGBTQ community "is not up for debate.''
She says an inquiry by her office showed almost two-thirds of LGBTQ students don't feel safe at school, compared with 11 per cent of heterosexual students, and attempts to erase them from school curriculums are hateful.
With files from Sonya Hartwig, Courtney Dickson and the Canadian Press
B.C. human rights commissioner slams 'hate-fuelled' anti-LGBTQ2S+ rallies planned across Canada
The Canadian Press
Updated Sept. 19, 2023
VICTORIA -
Protests and counter-protests for and against Canada's trans and LGBTQ community are being planned across Canada on Wednesday.
Posters created by a group called “1MillionMarch4Children” say rally participants are “standing together against gender ideology in schools,” which is a reference to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity programs being taught in B.C.'s public schools.
Sarah Worthman, an LGBTQ advocate who is helping organize at least 63 counter-protests across the country, said Canadians need to stand up for the community outside of Pride events.
“Allyship is a verb,” she said, as she called on supporters to stand in solidarity with LGBTQ folks who have increasingly been the subject of hate and political debate by attending the No Space for Hate events.
“There's this small but vocal minority of far-right individuals who constantly think they're the majority, and that everyone shares their views,” Worthman said.
She said she hopes the planned counter-protests can help show most Canadians are generally supportive, while countering hateful messaging they expect from protesters.
“Doing these small things shows there is social pushback,” she said. “There is real danger in all of this.”
British Columbia's Human Rights Commissioner, Kasari Govender, called the anti-LGBTQ marches “hate-fuelled” and said while peaceful demonstration protects democracy and generates debate, the human rights of the trans and LGBTQ community “is not up for debate.”
She said in a statement Tuesday that an inquiry by her office showed almost two-thirds of LGBTQ students don't feel safe at school, compared with 11 per cent of heterosexual students, and attempts to erase them from school curriculums are hateful.
Worthman said politicians, too, “should be louder” about their support for the LGBTQ community, and against individuals who seek to further marginalize members.
Clint Johnston, the president of the BC Teachers' Federation, wrote a letter to B.C. Premier David Eby about the union's concerns about the planned protests.
He said they're part of a co-ordinated attack against the trans and LGBTQ community.
“These rallies are part of a movement across North America that uses 'parental consent' as a dog whistle for rising homophobia and transphobia. This movement is concerning and must be stopped,” he said in the letter.
In response, the premier said school must be a place where every student feels secure and it's upsetting to see misinformation and disinformation used to attack vulnerable children and youth.
“Without hesitation, I denounce threats, hate and violence against 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. We are seeing a concerning rise in incidents where trans people are being targeted with threats and violence in person and online,” Eby said in the statement.
“We cannot and must not stand idly by in the face of any kind of bullying. Any political leader who targets our most vulnerable, at-risk children and youth is no leader at all.”
A statement from the City of Whitehorse said it is aware of a march planned for Sept. 20 in the Yukon city, and anti-LGBTQ messaging that targets community members will not be tolerated.
Bylaw officers in Whitehorse are also aware of the planned march as a counter-protest and the city said RCMP will be monitoring.
Govender said in a statement that those who want to “protect” children by removing school-based supports for gay, bisexual, trans and other students are misinformed.
“As a parent, I plead with those who may think they are protecting their children: Erasing LGBTQ2SAI+ people from our curriculum will not change your child's identity, but it will make schools, and the LGBTQ2SAI+ people in them, less safe,” she said.
Trans people have become the focus of a “surge of disinformation, conspiracy theories and hate,” Govender said.
“This is not only about hate on the basis of gender identity; these rallies are an affront to human dignity, expression and rights for all of us,” she said.
A letter from Govender to Eby, urged him to release details about the effectiveness of 12 recommendations Govender's office submitted to the province in March.
The recommendations flowed from a public inquiry that examined reports of hate in B.C. and provide a “road map of how to take tangible and transformative action against hate,” Govender said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2023.
B.C. Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender speaks in Vancouver, on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Hundreds expected to counter-protest anti-LGBTQ2S+ demonstrations in Toronto
Demonstrations protesting queer inclusive education are planned in at least 80 cities across CanadaHannah Alberga,
Published Wednesday, September 20, 2023T
Demonstrations protesting LGBTQ2S+ inclusive education are planned in at least 80 cities across the country on Wednesday, with hundreds of people planning to participate in a counter-protest in Toronto.
The demonstrations, under the banner “1 Million March 4 Children,” are advocating for the elimination of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) curriculums in Canada.
Gender identity in the education sector has frequented headlines in recent months, since Saskatchewan and New Brunswick adopted gender and pronoun policies that require parental consent for students under the age of 16 who want to change their given names and/or pronouns at school.
Megan Poole, manager of community relations and communications for the 519, an agency in downtown Toronto that supports members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, said Ontario Premier Doug Ford has accused school boards of indoctrinating students and insisting parents should be informed of their child’s gender identity. Poole called this a dangerous discourse that forcibly outs children.
“Unfortunately not all of us come from deeply supportive families,” Poole said.
The 519 is planning a counter protest, with 600 participants registered to congregate at Barbara Hall Park on Wednesday before marching to Queen’s Park, to make it clear that “hate has no home in Ontario.”
“If you showed up for Pride this year, it’s really time to show up for the community the rest of the year as well. Pride is every day,” Poole said.
WHO IS PROTESTING?
There are two “brands” promoting protests across Canada on Wednesday, Hands Off Our Kids and Family Freedom, Canadian Anti-Hate Network Executive Director Evan Balgord explained. The groups did not respond to requests for comment.
Balgord said one of the groups is religious and openly intolerant of the LGBTQ2S+ community while the other is more secular and appears to be more inclusive. Fundamentally, both are advocating for SOGI to be stripped from the curriculum by hiding behind the illusion that they are just trying to protect children, Balgord noted.
“The concern is that when you let these people organize unopposed, they gain more power,” Balgord said.
To support LGBTQ2S+ communities, counter protests are planned in every province across the country. Several are taking place in Toronto, with more spanning Ontario in Kingston, Kitchener, London, Ottawa, Peterborough, Sarnia, Sudbury and Windsor
“I think from the teacher’s side, it’s fair to say there is some frustration and anger about how what we do to support students in schools is being twisted and misconstrued to be something it isn’t,” Jamie Mitchell, an Ontario high school math teacher, said.
“To see initiatives that would take us backwards, good teachers know that would be harmful for students and families.”
WHAT’S THE RESPONSE?
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said she has stood shoulder-to-shoulder in support of LGBTQ2S+ communities, and against discrimination, hatred and bigotry for decades.
“From the earliest Pride parades, through the AIDS crisis, winning same-sex marriage, and much more. I continue to stand with you today in the face of hate," Chow said on Wednesday.
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) said it “unequivocally” stands with trans, Two-Spirit and non-binary students, staff and families. “We support everyone's human rights and expression of gender,” the TDSB said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.
The education minister released a message on Wednesday morning stating the government’s commitment to the safety and well-being of all children in Ontario schools, “irrespective of your faith, heritage, sexual orientation, or color of skin.”
Toronto, Durham and Burlington police forces said they will be monitoring the demonstrations on Wednesday, keeping the peace and enforcing applicable laws.
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) condemned the planned protests and said it is “alarming” that several politicians have contributed to this “disturbing” discourse.
“Instead of spewing rhetoric they know is harmful and dangerous and that pits parents against educators, they should be ensuring safe and inclusive spaces for every student in the province,” the ETFO said in a statement on Tuesday.
To visibly show support, the Pride flag will be raised all week at TDSB and Durham District School Board institutions.
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