Groups of protesters march in Charlottetown over LGBTQ rights in schools
Carolyn Ryan, Shane Ross | CBC News | Posted: September 20, 2023 2:33 PM | Last Updated: September 26, 2023
Police block off traffic as protesters shout at each other, venture onto nearby streets
Groups of protesters gathered outside Province House in downtown Charlottetown Wednesday over sex ed and LGBTQ policies in schools.
Some protesters wore T-shirts that read, "Leave our kids alone," while others held signs with messages like, "Our kids go to school to learn ABC, not LGBTQ2s+" and "Let kids just be kids."
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It was part of a widespread protest across Canada that some are calling the "1 Million March 4 Children," focusing on sexual education and LGBTQ respect policies in schools.
Counter protesters waving Pride flags and holding signs with messages like "Protect trans health care" and "Protect trans kids" gathered at the same location, many wearing rainbow clothing and holding large rainbow umbrellas.
Laura Marie Braden described herself as a mother there to protest the "gender ideologies that are being imposed on the curriculum in our public school systems," adding that kids should be free to express themselves.
"Kids should feel safe in all environments," she said.
"What we are saying is the indoctrination of the children with gender ideology policies in the curriculum is inappropriate in the public school system and us as parents have not been heard until this point and we're just saying let's have a larger conversation because right now we have concerns about what is being taught."
'Very serious and sensitive topics'
On Prince Edward Island, school staff are instructed to respect a student's gender identity and pronouns, in line with a provincial directive approved in December 2021 "for Respecting, Accommodating, and Supporting Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sexual Orientation in our Schools."
The P.E.I. Public Schools Branch responded to CBC's questions about the protests in an email Wednesday afternoon, saying in part: "Curriculum are a set of learning outcomes for students; they do not provide an 'indoctrination' of students. There have been no changes made to the province's sexual health curriculum this year.
"P.E.I.'s renewed Sexual Health curriculum for Grades 7-9 was rolled out three years ago. Changes focused on promoting healthy decision-making skills regarding sexual health and well-being, and preventing adverse effects of sexual health."
The email added: "Conversations about gender identity are very serious and sensitive topics which do get raised by students from time to time. However, they are not part of school curriculum until the intermediate level."
Anna Keenan, a mom who identified herself as part of the counter protest, said the school system and the LGBTQ community is nothing to fear.
"I fully trust that the education system has my kid's back, whether they are straight, whether they are gay, whether they're going to be transgender," she said.
"I trust that our education professionals are well-advised by health experts and that there is no threat to our kids on P.E.I."
Protesters march side by side
The protests began outside Province House Wednesday morning, as protesters waving signs with varying messages could be seen climbing the fountain. Attempts to give speeches drowned out, and police shut down the intersection in front of the cenotaph just after 11 a.m. AT after several people walked into traffic on nearby Grafton Street.
As the shouting intensified, the City of Charlottetown posted a message on social media about what was happening.
"We respect the right to peaceful protest and want to reaffirm our support and solidarity with our 2SLGBTQIA+ community," it said. "We are proud of our diversity and inclusion."
Shortly afterward, hundreds of protesters started moving north on Great George Street, some holding rainbow umbrellas fending off a light rain as other marchers nearby held signs reading "Protect parental rights" and "Stop sexualization agenda." A number of people carried young children or rolled them along in strollers.
Skirmishes occasionally broke out in the crowd, at least four of them witnessed by a CBC News crew. At one point, a person was knocked to the pavement before being surrounded by a protective cordon of people holding and wearing rainbow symbols.
The protests eventually broke up in front of the Shaw Building at about 12:30 p.m. AT.
More images from downtown Charlottetown appear below.