On September 20, about two dozen adults and about half a dozen kids attended the “1 Million March 4 Children” here in Tumbler Ridge.
It was part of a nationwide protest, organized by a group of “diverse backgrounds and faiths, who share a resolute purpose: advocating for the elimination of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) curriculum, pronouns, gender ideology and mixed bathrooms in schools.”
In some cities, the march was met by counter-protests. In Vancouver, for instance, there were more counter-protesters than there were protesters.
According to the official Million March website, the core issue is the belief that “discussions on gender ideology should be approached at age-appropriate times. We believe in the importance of letting children grow and explore naturally,” says the website. “Children are naturally curious and imaginative. Our concern is that certain decisions, especially those that have permanent, life-changing consequences, should be made when an individual is mature enough to fully grasp their implications. Just as we might believe a child is too young to consent to a tattoo, we similarly believe they should be protected from making irreversible decisions about their bodies at a young age.”
However, that did not prevent others from bringing their own ideologies to the march in Tumbler Ridge. “‘God’ created male and female” read one sign at the local march. “Natural Families. Children Matter,” said another.
Elsewhere, the messages were even more pointed. In Calgary, a boy holding a sign saying “kick the gays out of our country,” was offered the microphone by organizer Mahmoud Mourra, who has been charged by Calgary Police for hate-motivated criminal harassment due to online incidents earlier this summer.
“I’d like to say that the gays are psychopaths and we’re not psychopaths,” says the boy. “The gays, they are disgusting!”
Part of the confusion lies in who is backing the protests. Family Freedom is the group that put up the official Million March website. But the protest is also being organized by Hands off our Kids, a much more militant organization, whose leaders (which includes Mourra) have accused supporters of SOGI of being “groomers” and “pedophiles.”
“We don’t care about your sexual identity,” posted Mourra on his Facebook page. “Some teachers are predators dressing like humans.”
And lurking behind both are groups like Freedom4Canada, who find their genesis in the anti-vaccination movement.
At the core of the protest is SOGI: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.
But what is SOGI?
Despite what has been reported on some national news sites, SOGI is not curriculum. Instead, it is a framework, designed to help schools to be “inclusive and safe spaces for students of all sexual orientations and gender identities,” says the BC Government website. “Everyone has a sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). It’s an inclusive term that applies to everyone, whether they identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two-spirit, heterosexual or cisgender (identifying with the same gender that one was assigned at birth). It’s important for schools to be inclusive and safe spaces for students of all sexual orientations and gender identities.”
Rather than imposing a pattern of belief on students, says the government, being SOGI-inclusive means speaking about SOGI in a way that makes every student feel like they belong. It means not limiting a person’s potential based on their biological sex and how they understand or express their gender and it means welcoming everyone without discrimination, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Each school district, First Nation school, and independent school has the autonomy to create their own specific policies and procedures around SOGI-inclusive education to align with the provincial human rights code. There is no SOGI curriculum mandated. Schools are required to have codes of conduct and anti-bullying policies that prevent discrimination based on “Indigenous identity, race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age.”
There is no mandate federally or provincially to teach about SOGI. “However, there are different ways inclusivity can be supported and ensured to be age appropriate. Examples could include diverse content in library books, pictures on walls reflecting the diversity of the community, and educators using inclusive language like ‘good morning everyone’ instead of ‘good morning boys and girls’.”
62 percent of kids who identify as 2SLGBTQ+ feel unsafe at school, and trans-gendered kids are five times more likely to attempt suicide, with 40 percent of the population having attempted to commit suicide and 80 percent having considered it. “With higher levels of discrimination and bullying, and lower levels of family, school, and community support, 2SLGBTQ+ youth face higher risks for significant health challenges, including suicidal thoughts and attempts, and problem substance use,” says Dr. Elizabeth Saewyc, Director at the UBC School of Nursing. “However, when 2SLGBTQ+ youth experience safe and supportive schools and families, they are much less likely to report these health challenges.”
There is a program, called SOGI 123, that “collects and shares educators’ experiences with policies and procedures and offers recommendations to help schools and districts with this work.”
Because there is no specific curriculum, there are a lot of rumours about what is being taught, like encouraging kids to medically transition genders. However, according to the SOGI 123 website, schools only provide social support to kids, including honouring their preferred pronouns and name. Medical and surgical transitions “are outside the responsibilities of schools.”
And, while one of the core principles of SOGI 123 is to provide age-appropriate information, different parents and different teachers will have different ideas on what is considered age-appropriate.
For instance, one of the books used in a lesson plan for kids in grades K-3 is Introducing Teddy, A Gentle Story About Gender and Friendship, which tells the story about a boy and his teddy bear, Thomas, who one day admits that: “In my heart, I’ve always known that I’m a girl teddy, not a boy teddy. I wish my name was Tilly, not Thomas.”
The boy says it doesn’t matter if his teddy is a boy or a girl. “What matters is that you are my friend.”
While the story is about acceptance of others, some would argue that the story introduces questions about gender identity at too early an age, while others say the material is perfectly age appropriate.
In response to the protests, Premier David Eby spoke out in support of non-binary kids, addressing them directly. “Without hesitation, I denounce threats, hate and violence against 2SLGBTQIA+ communities,” he said. “We are seeing a concerning rise in incidents where trans people are being targeted with threats and violence in person and online. We may not have met. I may not know your name and I may not know your favourite music, but I want you to know this: I accept you for who you are in every way. My job as premier is to ensure you all have a safe learning environment, so you can pursue your dreams.”
Back in Tumbler Ridge, the two dozen or so protestors gathered at town hall (mayor and senior staff were away at UBCM), then marched about town. There were no visible anti-protests.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.