LGBTQ education in schools brings out protesters, counter-protesters in Winnipeg

A crowd gathered outside Winnipeg city hall on Saturday to protest LGBTQ-inclusive education and sex-ed policies in schools, while a counter-protest at the same time drew a crowd outside the Manitoba Legislature.

About 150 people gathered outside city hall as part of the 1 Million March 4 Children protest, which involved similar rallies across Canada on Saturday and in recent months.

Manpreet Singh Toor, a father of two young children who volunteered at the city hall protest, said he believes schools are forcing sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) education on children without parents' consent.

"We send our kids to the school so that they can get the education on science, mathematics or English, other subjects, but not for the SOGI curriculum," he said.

It was a point agreed on by Leslie Kisser, who also attended Saturday's rally.

"I would like the education system to teach my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren some very basic fundamentals — read, write and swim. I would like them to accomplish that; they haven't been able to," he said.

"So when you're going off on left field for sexual orientation and identification and ideologies, can't you accomplish the basics first and then worry about that other stuff and let the parents take care of it? We've been doing a good job up to this point."

Some parents and socially conservative groups have argued that LGBTQ-inclusive education and sex-ed policies in the classroom and in extracurricular settings contravene "parental rights."

But critics and researchers say the term is a misnomer, because it doesn't address the rights and concerns of LGBTQ parents or parents of LGBTQ children.

Counter-protest held outside legislature 

A large counter-protest, organized by a coalition of groups, was held at the Manitoba Legislature on Saturday afternoon. 

Cynthia Taylor, vice-president of the Manitoba Teachers' Society, said it was important to be there and help promote the organization's message.

"In schools we are promoting diversity, equity and inclusion," Taylor said. "We're not only working again with families and schools, but alongside our teaching staff to make sure that people feel that they have a sense of community and safe spaces in schools."

Taylor said the teachers' society's message is that it's "against transphobia, homophobia and racism."

"We support curriculum, that's part of the provincial mandate ... and so we want to make sure that we are working with that curriculum and the resources that are put together by the province, who supports us in education, to make sure that schools and families and communities feel safe."

Taylor said her message to protesters would be that it's important for them to get connected with their schools and "to really understand what's happening" and how educators are trying to make sure that everyone has a space.

"Maybe some of the misinformation they received or misunderstanding can really be rectified by connecting with schools and families."

When asked about the arguments being made by counter-protesters, Singh Toor said his issue is not with LGBTQ people.

"When I am 18, you are 18, it's all your rights. Wherever you want to go, you can, you're free," he said. "But up to the age of 17, it's [the] parents' right to grow the kids."

Several dozen people attended a similar rally in Brandon, Man., on Saturday afternoon.

New NDP government backs counter-protesters 

The counter-protesters at the legislature had the support of Manitoba Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, who is also responsible for gender equity.

"Our government stands firm in support of 2SLGBTQI+ Manitobans, and against any form of discrimination or intimidation that puts the lives of 2SLGBTQI+ youth at risk," Fontaine said in a written statement earlier Saturday.

"There is no place for hate in our province. Targeting members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities — particularly transgender and gender-diverse youth — through fear and division is unacceptable and puts the lives of Manitoba youth at risk."