(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Education

National anti-SOGI protest comes to Prince Albert, met by counter-protestors

Sep 20, 2023 | 4:34 PM

Holding signs that read “Hands off our children” and “Teach geography not pornography”, well over 100 people took part in a rally and march in Prince Albert on Wednesday.

The group protested against SOGI (sexual orientation and gender inclusivity) curriculums in Canada and wants adaptations made relating to sexual education and students’ gender identity. The claims of the group and its petition are unclear in the wake of recent legislation requiring school districts to seek parental permission for students wanting to change their pronouns at school.

The event was one of many held across the country as part of the 1 Million March for Children.

Prince Albert rally organizer Dr. Hannah Mary Shenouda has lived in the community for 50 years, is a retired podiatrist and told paNOW she has two grandchildren who attend school.

“I believe in children and the rights of children,” she stated.

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Noting the group has the support of local area MLAs, as well as church leaders, educators and parents, Shenouda said their goal is to promote that parents have a right to bring up their kids and to make decisions for their children.

SOGI has yet to be introduced in Saskatchewan schools, but Shenouda is adamant it could be as it’s a United Nations initiative.

“It’s intended for the whole world to be changed and for our children to be changed and to brainwash our children of their innocence,” she said. “So what we are here today to do is to educate people to look into what SOGI is and what it means for their children because the majority are ignorant and don’t know.”

The United Nations recently appointed an independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, without distinction of any kind. Yet in all regions of the world, there are acts of violence and discrimination committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” the UN website states. “To address this concern, the UN Human Rights Council created the mandate of Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (also referred to as the Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity or the “IE SOGI”). ”

The ARC Foundation, based out of Vancouver, B.C., is the group pushing for SOGI to be a part of all school curriculums in Canada. On its website, they echo the United Nations goal.

“At a SOGI-inclusive school, students’ gender does not limit their interests and opportunities, and their sexual orientation and how they understand and express their gender are welcomed without discrimination.”

(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

In Prince Albert, the counter-protestors shared the same value of protecting children, albeit with a difference in ideology. Trans children in particular have higher rates of suicide than their peers.

“I was not safe in my home to come out. School was my place where I could be me and now they’re trying to take that away from children,” one counter-protestor, who preferred not to be named said. “My heart feels for them. I’m scared for them.”

“My brother-in-law, who was [like] a father to me, said if I step on his property, he’ll shoot me. Prior to that I was his kid, so that will tell you how safe I was,” the protestor continued.

To these counter-protestors, it feels like strides made towards being included and recognized in society are taking huge steps backwards, and they are not reassured by the words of those in the protest who said differently.

Sask Rivers MLA Nadine Wilson was among the event’s guest speakers and relayed to the crowd that there is a group who have a social agenda.

“Keep your hands off our kids,” she said.

Stating the protest is not against the 2SLGBTQ+ community, Wilson said she has had several families from the community contact her with concerns about SOGI.

During the rally, counter-protestors rang bells and held up signs denouncing the spread of hate speech. Another person voiced opinions over a megaphone, drowning out anti-SOGI speeches.

The man on the megaphone told the crowd children have rights too, children are not slaves to their ideology and not to brainwash children into something they are not.

The comments were met with laughter from the crowd. Several members of the anti-SOGI group went to the person’s home and when they stepped on the property they were turned away with assistance from Prince Albert Police.

For another counter-protestor, the need to keep trans children safe in schools is immediate and they said the move requiring schools to report pronoun usage is redundant because the entire concept of inclusivity is already embedded in the curriculum.

“It’s in health, it’s in social studies, it’s in English and language arts. There is curriculum specific around two-spirit, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender education and awareness,” they said.

Counter protestors met the other group at city hall and again on the way to the school division office. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

Rally participants walked from Prince Albert City Hall to the Sask. Rivers Public School Division head office. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

National reports have tied representatives from the Freedom Convoy movement to the march, but Shenouda denied any connection. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

Lana Wilson was among those representing the local PA Pride community and told paNOW there are laws in Canada that protect gender diversity and sexual orientation in schools.

“It is simply absolutely awful and terrible and completely inappropriate to deny that entire groups of people exist,” she said.

In addition to teachers at the schools, Wilson said children who come from gender-diverse families or may have same-sex parents will be marginalized by recent changes in the province.

She said the lack of support and feeling of protection increases the risk of mental illness and self-harm.

“The issue is life or death and the other group is not seeing that,” she said.

(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

A third counter-protestor who did not want their name published said it was a shock to see people they know marching down the street in opposition to them.

“Stuff like this is very personal for us. A lot of confusion, disappointment and hurt, seeing some of the faces in that line. They are people that I have personal relationships with,” they said.

For this particular person, the debate is not about names in schools, it is about the very right of trans people to exist.

“Our right to exist in our society, to be visible, to have a place — that’s what’s being contested,” they said.

(Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

The Minister of Education Jeremy Cockrill was not available for comment on Wednesday, however during a scrum in Saskatoon, Premier Scott Moe spoke to the protests and confirmed the province’s new policy is now in place.

“School divisions are working through the implementation of the policy in our classrooms and our schools across the province,” he said.

The provincial children’s advocate has recently spoken out against the policy, and when asked about it, Moe said the government will review the advocate’s concerns, adding the government will provide resources to the school divisions to help students who may face difficulties.

Similar protests were held in other communities in Saskatchewan, such as Estevan, Yorkton, Regina, Saskatoon and the one pictured in North Battleford. (submitted photo/Mike Aimoe)

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

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