(Victoria) Demonstrations and counter-demonstrations against and for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community are planned for Wednesday across Canada.
Posters created by a group called “1MillionMarch4Children” say participants are “uniting against gender ideology in schools.”
Sarah Worthman, an LGBTQ+ activist who has helped organize at least 63 counter-protests across the country, said Canadians must stand up for the community outside of Pride events.
“Being an ally is a verb,” she declared, calling on the population to show solidarity with LGBTQ+ people who are increasingly the subject of hatred and political debate by participating in “No Space” events. for Hate.”
“There is this small, but vocal, minority of far-right individuals who constantly think that they are the majority and that everyone shares their point of view,” said Ms.me Worthman.
She said she hopes the counterprotests help show that most Canadians are generally supporters of the LGBTQ+ community, while countering the hateful messages they expect from protesters.
“Doing these little things shows that there is social repression,” she said. There is real danger in all this. »
British Columbia Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender called anti-LGBTQ+ marches “fueled by hate” and noted that while peaceful protests protect democracy and generate debate, human rights of the person of the trans and LGBTQ+ community “are not subject to debate”.
PHOTO DARRYL DYCK, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Kasari Govender
In a statement released Tuesday, she said a survey by her office showed that nearly two-thirds of LGBTQ+ students feel unsafe at school, compared to 11 percent of straight students, and that attempts to to remove them from school curricula is hateful.
Mme Worthman argued that politicians, too, “should be more vocal” about their support for the LGBTQ+ community and against individuals who seek to further marginalize its members.
Clint Johnston, president of the British Columbia Teachers’ Association (BCTF), wrote a letter to Premier David Eby expressing the union’s concerns about the planned protests.
He said they were part of a coordinated attack on the trans and LGBTQ+ community.
“These gatherings are part of a North American movement that uses “parental consent” to justify the rise of homophobia and transphobia. This movement is worrying and must be stopped,” he wrote in the letter.
Children in British Columbia public schools attend programs about sexual orientation and gender identity.
In response to Mr Johnston’s letter, Premier Eby said school must be a place where every student feels safe and it is upsetting to see misinformation and disinformation being used to attack children and vulnerable young people.
“Without hesitation, I denounce threats, hatred and violence against 2SLGBTQIA communities.” We are seeing a worrying increase in incidents where trans people are targeted with threats and violence in person and online,” Mr. Eby said in a press release.
“We cannot and must not stand idly by in the face of any form of intimidation. Any political leader who targets our most vulnerable and at-risk children and youth is not a leader at all. »
A statement from the City of Whitehorse says it is aware of a march planned for September 20 in the Yukon City, and says anti-LGBTQ+ messages targeting members of the community will not be tolerated.
Bylaw enforcement officers in Whitehorse are aware of the planned march, as well as a counter-protest. The City indicates that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will monitor the situation.
Mme Govender said in a statement that those who want to “protect” their children by removing academic support for gay, bisexual, trans and other students are misinformed.
“As a parent, I implore those who think they are protecting their children: Removing 2SLGBTQIA people from our curriculum will not change your child’s identity, but it will make schools less safe for 2SLGBTQIA people.” -we read in his statement.
Trans people have become the target of a “wave of misinformation, conspiracy theories and hatred,” Ms.me Govender.
“This is not just about hatred based on gender identity: these gatherings are an affront to human dignity, expression and the rights of each of us,” she said.
A letter from Mme Govender to Prime Minister Eby, urges him to disclose details on the effectiveness of the 12 recommendations that M’s officeme Govender submitted this to the province in March.
The recommendations stem from a public inquiry that examined reports of hateful acts in British Columbia, and provide a “road map for how to take concrete, transformative action against hate,” said Ms.me Govender.