Duelling rallies on sexual orientation and gender identity education held across Canada
The debate over sexual orientation and gender identity education in schools is heating up.
Protests both for and against SOGI in the curriculum took place across the country Friday.
Experts say the controversy is being fuelled by misinformation.
Members of the Tri Cities LGBTQ community rallied outside Coquitlam City Hall to show their support for the B.C. curriculum resources known as "SOGI 123."
They were countering another protest organized by a group called 1 Million March For Children.
The group said the goal of its rally was safeguard kids from propaganda and to advocate for parental rights.
SOGI has been widely misrepresented as its own curriculum. However, it is actually just a resource for educators endorsed by the province.
“As a trans person, growing up, I never had that kind of education in schools, and I think my journey would have been a lot easier if I did,” said Malhar, a member of the Tri Cities Pride Society who goes by only one name.
1 Million March For Children calls the initiative propaganda.
“The sexual orientation, gender identity doctrine is harmful to students,” said Waldene, an anti-SOGI protester and retired teacher, who did not share a last name.
“There's so much confusion going on. It started in public school systems in high school, and now it's gotten all the way down to kindergarten,” said Waldene.
Experts say the controversy is fuelled by deliberate misinformation and fear mongering for political gain.
“Kindergarten students are not being taught about anything related to sex,” said Travers, a sociology professor at Simon Fraser University who, like Malhar, goes by just one name.
They say that SOGI is all about education.
“There is no agenda to, you know, to influence anyone's sexuality, beyond learning about the importance of consent, learning about sexual health, the kinds of things that we all need.”
At the peak, the number of pro-SOGI protesters at Friday's rally was more than double the opposing side.
Nicola Spurling, a candidate for the BC Green Party, organized the Coquitlam Pride rally in response to the SOGI protest.
“I think it's travesty that these other folks here will come out and protest and say that we shouldn't have inclusive education,” said Spurling.
Waldene says the introduction of pronouns and gender identity have caused confusion among young students.
“It’s ridiculous because they don’t even know what they are anymore, because imagine going through life not knowing, because some people told you that, and that became part of your belief system,” she said.
“Kids today, they are smart enough to know that this isn't a resource that is pushing them to be anything that they're not. It's about making sure that they feel comfortable expressing who they actually are,” Spurling told CTV News.
When asked why they were protesting SOGI at the Coquitlam rally, a young group of students told CTV News they were preaching the gospel.
“We’re here to tell people that there’s only two genders,” said Juha, a Grade 8 student.
“To tell people that LGBTQ is bad,” said Juyoung, a Grade 5 student.
Friday's protest in Coquitlam remained civil, a stark contrast to previous years when police had to step in.
Correction
This story has been updated to correct a typo in the name of the BC Green Party candidate. It is Nicola Spurling.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'The mom is shattered': Body of employee who died at Halifax Walmart was found by her mother
The Maritime Sikh Society says the body of a young employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax last weekend was found by her mother.
'Horrific': Four people dead after Tesla slams into pillar and catches fire on Lake Shore Boulevard in Toronto
Four people are dead and another is in hospital after a Tesla driving through downtown Toronto at a high rate of speed crashed into a guardrail and struck a concrete pillar on Lake Shore Boulevard.
Prosecutor recommends parole for Menendez brothers in 1989 murder of parents
A Los Angeles prosecutor said on Thursday he would ask a judge to release Erik and Lyle Menendez on parole after nearly 35 years in prison for the shotgun murder of their parents, as new evidence emerged indicating they were sexually abused by their father for years.
Former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model says Trump groped her to show off for Jeffrey Epstein
A former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model is alleging that former President Donald Trump groped her in the 1990s, in what she believes was an attempt to show off for Jeffrey Epstein.
'Never said I was going to close the door on politics forever': Christy Clark on interest in federal leadership run
As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces growing pressure from within his own caucus to step aside, former B.C. premier Christy Clark says she is open to returning to politics.
2 suspects arrested after 4 teens stabbed outside Montreal high school
Montreal police say four teenagers suffered stab wounds after an altercation near John F. Kennedy High School in the city's Villeray—Saint-Michel—Parc-Extension borough on Thursday.
More straight couples are calling each other partner. Here's why
Within a year of dating, 31-year-old Siara Rouzer crossed a major relationship milestone. The guy she was seeing was no longer a boyfriend but her partner.
Trudeau announces massive drop in immigration targets as Liberals make major pivot
The federal government is slashing immigration targets to levels that will flatten population growth as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admits the government did not get the balance right after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Police identify woman stabbed to death in park in Ottawa's south end
The Ottawa Police Service has identified the woman who was stabbed to death at Paul Landry Park on Uplands Drive Thursday morning.