Duelling protests held in Edmonton over sexual orientation and gender identity policies in schools

A protest, and consequent counterprotest, was held successful westbound Edmonton connected Friday surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity policies successful schools.

The archetypal protestation was organized by Benita Pedersen with 1 Million March 4 Children, a radical that says it is against SOGI 1 2 3, an initiative the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) says is aimed astatine helping educators marque schools harmless and inclusive for students of each intersexual orientations and sex identities.

“This is astir steadfast boundaries for children. It’s about, erstwhile bash you exposure a kid to mature concepts?” Pedersen said.

“We deliberation mature concepts should beryllium shared with individuals erstwhile they are aged capable to grip it. If you stock mature concepts with a kid that’s excessively small, that’s indoctrination and that’s unacceptable.”

Pedersen said the radical is “standing up for parental rights.”

“When I reappraisal aspects of the Alberta curriculum, I really don’t person that galore concerns. What I person a interest with is the things that teachers add,” Pedersen said.

The protestation was held extracurricular the ATA gathering successful westbound Edmonton. ATA president Jason Schilling said the Alberta program is publically posted online and the resources utilized successful schools are vetted.

“I’m highly disappointed to spot that erstwhile again we person a radical of individuals who mightiness person fallen unfortunate to immoderate misinformation and immoderate mistruths astir what’s happening successful our schools,” Schilling said.

“(SOGI 123) is simply a assets oregon a web for teachers to speech with 1 another, stock communal practices, what works successful their schools. It’s benignant of a assets that says, alternatively of saying to kids successful the morning, ‘Good greeting boys and girls.’ You say, ‘Good greeting everyone.’”

Schilling encourages parents who person questions astir what their children are learning to talk with their teachers oregon schools directly.

“I deliberation a elemental speech with principals, with teachers, with schoolhouse districts astir resources and program and what is being taught truly needs to beryllium held truthful that we don’t person folks walking astir with misinformation astir what’s happening successful our schools.”

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Schilling said the ATA is determination to basal up for students and colleagues.

“We request to admit and respect the diverseness of our classrooms truthful that each pupil is invited and safe,” helium said. “The ATA is ever going to support the rights of each of our students; that includes our 2SLGBTQ+ students due to the fact that we cognize they’re the astir susceptible ones that we have.”

The protestation was met by a radical of counterprotesters who said they were determination to support the rights of children.

“We deliberation that it is truly important not conscionable for queer kids to person practice successful their schoolhouse and successful their education, but besides for them to consciousness inherently harmless successful their learning spaces,” said Erica Posteraro, with Pride Corner connected Whyte.

Another rally organized by Trans Rights YEG volition beryllium held successful Edmonton astatine 5:30 p.m. Friday. The radical says it is holding that rally successful enactment of the LGBTQ2 community.

Rallies organized by 1 Million March 4 Children were held successful a fig of cities crossed Canada connected Friday.