Dueling protests over gender identity in schools as thousands descend on Downtown Calgary

People across the country, including in Calgary, are hitting the streets Wednesday for protests and counter protests.

A group called ‘1MillionMarch4Children’ has organized a rally, with the purpose of advocating for getting rid of children using their preferred gender pronouns, gender neutral bathrooms, and opposing teaching about gender and sexual diversity in schools.

The group says it’s promoting parents’ rights.

In Calgary, demonstrators are gathering downtown outside the Harry Hays building.

Counter protestors said ahead of the event that the whole premise of the march is based on intolerance and hate.

“Hate is picking on the people that are easy targets and in this case, it’s trans people. And people can galvanize around rhetoric like ‘Protect our children’ but spread lies in doing so. And the people who are going to be hurt the most in this are the very children and youth that they aim to protect,” inclusion professional Marni Panas told CityNews.

Protests and hate-filled incidents against transgender people and the 2SLGBTQ+ community have grown over the past year, not only in Calgary, but across Canada.

“I feel less safe in my province and my country today than I ever have, and that terrifies me,” Panas added. “And I have a lot of privilege, I have a lot of things going for me.”

As recent as August, the governments of Saskatchewan and New Brunswick adopted new gender pronoun policies in schools, which required parents’ consent for students who wish to change their preferred name or pronouns.

Alberta Teacher’s Association president Jason Schilling says the protest is counterintuitive.

“It’s disturbingly ironic that we have a protest that will be going by schools and disturbing schools and bringing a protest through school areas when children are in those buildings trying to learn,” he said. “They’re in those buildings where they’re meant to be safe and cared for.”

Opposing sides line the streets

CityNews is on location at the protest in downtown Calgary where many people have shown up on opposing sides of the street expressing their differing views.

CityNews spoke to a parent standing underneath a big banner saying ‘Protect Our Children.”

“I’m a parent of five kids, I have no issue toward the other people, in fact I share the love with them and with their kids and I don’t care what gender they are, all I care about — leave our kids alone,” he said. “In school, my minor kids 14, 12, 8 years old, they shouldn’t be learning sexual orientation, SOGI, or whatever stuff they’re trying to teach. If they leave our kids free and until they’re adults to determine what they want, I’m happy with that.”

On the other side of the street, parents say teaching about gender helps protect children.

“I actually have a family friend who lost their trans nephew to suicide this year,” said one person. “And that’s what happens if we take away any type of gender affirming rhetoric in schools — we’re telling them it’s not okay to be themselves.”

Politicians react

In a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter, Wednesday, Premier Danielle Smith says her government is aware of “large, planned protests and counter-protests happening across Canada today regarding issues that impact the lives and well-being of children.”

“I ask that all protesters, regardless of what their position is on these delicate issues, exercise their right of free speech peacefully and to encourage their fellow Canadians to do the same,” she continued.

The Official Opposition NDP have also reacted to the events, saying “they seek to divide us and spread fear when we should be embracing low and compassion.”

“The protests being held today are designed to divide us, to spread misinformation and to stoke fear for political gain,” leader Rachel Notley said. “They target the most vulnerable among us, our kids.”

“The protests being planned today intend to prey on fear and pit us against each other. I’m here to say that we should stand for each other, not against,” Lizette Tejada, Alberta NDP Critic for Anti-Racism, Diversity & 2SLGBTQ+ Issues, added. “All kids deserve to be safe and accepted and loved for who they are. They all deserve and have the right to receive a quality education without living in fear.”

Meanwhile in Ottawa thousands of people faced off in front of Parliament Hill, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh led a group of counter-protesters down Wellington Street.

“We know that there’s a lot of folks that don’t feel safe because of the rise in hate and division that’s targeting vulnerable people,” Singh said. “But then you see a lot of people coming together, and it shows the strength of solidarity, of us supporting each other, of having each other’s back.”

He said politicians need to go beyond acts of solidarity and show up with “real protections,” whether that be strengthening constitutional protections or by introducing new legislation.

On Tuesday afternoon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted to X addressing the nationwide events, while at the United Nations General Assembly.

“Let me make one thing very clear: Transphobia, homophobia, and biphobia have no place in this country,” he wrote. “We strongly condemn this hate and its manifestations, and we stand united in support of 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians across the country – you are valid and you are valued.”

-With files from The Canadian Press