Two groups with radically opposing ideas on gender identity and the rights of the LGBTQ+ community clashed Wednesday in front of Prime Minister François Legault’s office, in the heart of downtown Montreal.
It was the group Million March for Children Canada, affiliated with the far right, which first invited its members on Wednesday to demonstrate “for parental rights” at the corner of Sherbrooke and McGill College streets, where the Mr. Legault’s office in the metropolis.
“Our mission is to unite people in a noble cause, protect children from the teachings of gender ideology, sexual indoctrination and exposure to explicit sexual content, and ensure that parental consent remains essential”, supported the organization on social networks, insisting on the fact that “children are not a tool of the political agenda”.
Million March for Children Canada held several protests across Canada on Wednesday. In addition to Montreal, rallies were to take place in several major cities such as Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Vancouver.
In Montreal, as in several other cities, a “counter-demonstration” was quickly organized to assert the rights of trans people and members of the LGBTQ+ community in Montreal.
With signs in hand, the demonstrators argued, among other things, “that an attack on one is an attack on us.” On the other side, we could read slogans like “Parents know best”.
At the passage of The Press On Wednesday, a strong police presence was on site to prevent potential excesses. A few verbal clashes took place between demonstrators, but no person was injured. “All in all, things are going well, but we are on site,” said Officer Véronique Dubuc, spokesperson for the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM).
This all comes at a time when in Quebec, debates concerning gender identity and the inclusion of trans and non-binary people in society are gaining momentum in these first days of the parliamentary term. To have a “peaceful view”, the government will set up a scientific committee between now and Christmas whose mission will be to guide decision-makers on these sensitive issues.
The Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, also banned Quebec schools last week from converting toilet blocks for boys or girls into mixed toilets.
With Hugo Pilon-Larose