Saturday witnessed the resurgence of protests centered on LGBTQ2S+ inclusive education, with dozens converging at the York Street entrance of Paris Street in Sudbury’s renowned Bell Park. The demonstrations marked the second occasion within the past month where such gatherings, operating under the tagline ‘1 Million March 4 Children’, have been coordinated countrywide, voicing opposition against what they designate as unchecked intrusion in the form of a sexual orientation and gender identity curriculum, slogans like ‘Leave Our Kids Alone’ and ‘Hands Off Our Kids’ echoing through the crowds.
In response, a counter-protest took shape on the opposing side of the roadway, rejecting the 1 Million March 4 Children’s stances as rooted in misguided anti-LGBTQ2S+ rhetoric. This counter-gathering argued that the movement is propagating misinformation harmful to LGBTQ2S+ communities under the deceptive banner of ‘child protection’.
Interestingly, the Sudbury countercurrent demonstrated a notable advantage in number over the 1 Million March 4 Children faction. Those endorsing the counter-protest maintained that they were advocating for diversity and inclusivity, especially significant given the surge of online vitriol targeting LGBTQ2S+ groups.
These unfolding events come at a time of intense national conversation surrounding the rights of queer students. In recent events, the Saskatchewan government has mobilized the notwithstanding clause to push through legislation restricting students under sixteen from changing their names or pronouns in school environments. Furthermore, Premier Doug Ford of Ontario dropped signs suggesting that similar legislation may lay ahead.
While those affiliated with the 1 Million March 4 Children conveyed apprehensions regarding the teaching methods of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools and potential conflicts with traditional values, they explicitly reject being framed as a hate group. “We are against the grooming of children in general and specifically against sexual orientation and gender identity”, states a post from their social media.
A counter-gathering also took place in Sudbury, dubbed ‘Counter Hate: Support 2SLGBTQ+ Youth’. The event aimed to challenge the information disseminated by the 1 Million March 4 Children and demonstrate support for LGBTQ2S+ individuals.
The counter-protestors took a vibrant approach, donning a rainbow of colors and distributing fact sheets emphasizing that gender identity is not introduced to the Ontario curriculum until grade eight, and that parents can choose to exempt their child from certain aspects of sexual education.
The counter-protest received the backing of regional labor organizations, as well as Sudbury MPP Jamie West, who turned up at the counter-protest to throw his weight behind the cause, stating hopefully, “It was cold out today, but that’s okay because we have warm hearts in Sudbury that care for each other.” Other related protests and counter-protests transpired across the northeast in Espanola, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Temiskaming Shores, and Timmins.
