More than 30 demonstrators opposed to LGBTQ+ education in schools converged outside the Newmarket town office today as part of nationwide protests.
Supporters of the 1 Million March 4 Children held signs and waved Canadian flags in the town parking lot. They were met by about 10 counterprotesters supporting LGBTQ+, with the two sides standing off and shouting at each other before the demonstrations moved to the roadside on Mulock Drive.
March demonstrator Jackie Eng said he wanted to show support and that “this demonstration has nothing to do with hate.” He further said he is opposed to teaching about trans and LGBTQ+ matters before high school.
“Leave the children alone and let them enjoy their youth,” he said, adding, “If they don’t teach about straight, why do they teach about gay and trans or anything? Math, science, the arts, reading, writing, those are the kinds of things kids go to school for. Anything else, leave it to the parents.”
The protests, also happening in centres like Toronto, Ottawa and Barrie, take aim at LGBTQ+ education, particularly for younger children. Though the movement professes to be inclusive on its website, Pride and education organizations have fired back that it is hateful.
During the standoff outside the Newmarket offices, a Million March supporters shouted there is only “one flag,” the Canadian one. One of the signs at the Newmarket rally opposed Pride flags in schools.
Asad Azizi said he opposes 10-year-olds learning about sex in school. He also spoke against injecting “kids with medication” to confuse them.
“You already have those rights. Why are they forcing this agenda on our kids? Just let them be kids.
“We are accepting of trans people. You want to be trans, be trans. My kid wants to be a kid. Just leave them alone,” he added.
Ashley Bernier of PFlag York Region was part of the counterprotest and described the standoff that lasted several minutes.
“It was quite emotional. We were trying to stay composed and calm,” she said. “It’s hard to stay calm, but we’re doing our best."
She said they wanted to show the 2SLGBTQ+ community that they have allies and support.
“The people who are marching or protesting have loud voices, but they are not the majority, and they do not represent Canadians. Canadians support everyone, we love everyone and everyone is welcome.”
York Region District School Board director of education Bill Cober issued a statement this morning regarding the expected protests.
“YRDSB continues to be committed to creating environments that are identity-affirming for all, including the 2SGLBTQI+ community,” Cober said. “Any kind of hatred has no place in our schools or workplaces and will not be tolerated.”
Cober said the board demonstrates its allyship by raising the Pride flag during Pride month, creating GSAs and positive spaces and finding chances to create visibility for the community.
“We also continue to create developmentally appropriate learning about gender identity and expression, cissexism, transphobia, homophobia, biphobia and gender diversity,” Cober said. “We ground this approach in a core commitment to human rights, which includes the protected grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.”
York Catholic District School Board also said it is unaware of any protests planned around it schools.
"People have a constitutionally protected right to protest and counterprotest. When protests exceed what is permitted under the law, our local police partners have been very responsive," the board said.
Recently, Premier Doug Ford waded into the discussion of gender identity in schools. During a rally in Kitchener this month, he said he believes that parents should be informed if their child wants to use different pronouns, and that "it's not up to the school boards to indoctrinate our kids."
The comment prompted PFlag York Region to call for Ford's government to be excluded from York Pride.
Bernier said she hopes politicians speak out about these protesters.
“I hope we hear from politicians. That they will choose to spread a message of love and support, instead of a message of hate,” Bernier said. “I just hope anyone out there who is feeling like the other side’s message is the majority. I hope they know that they’re not alone.”
