‘No space for hate’: Counter-protesters overwhelm 1 Million March 4 Children in Kamloops

On the morning of Sept. 20 as demonstrators for the so-called 1 Million March 4 Children gathered in front of the Kamloops courthouse, so too did counter protesters, outnumbering the protesters by at least a dozen to one.

Protestors supporting the 1 Million March 4 Children were met by a diverse group of counter-protesters with delegations from the Kamloops United Church, the BC Government Employees Union, Kamloops Pride and other organizations.

The 1 Million March 4 Children protests were held in cities from St. John’s to Victoria with varying degrees of local organization and attendance. The overarching aim, according to one group’s website, is to protect children “from premature sexualization and potentially harmful indoctrination,”  by affirming “parental rights.” 

According to researchers at Mount Royal University, these movements are connected to similar parental rights movements in the United States and this language has been used as a framework to oppose 2SLGBTQIA+ rights since the 1970s. The 1 Million March 4 Children has attracted support from diverse conservative groups, including some Christian Nationalists, COVID-19 conspiracy theorists and conservative Muslim activists, according to the Canadian Anti-Hate Network.

Some groups are spreading misinformation about the rights of parents, trans health care and Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) curriculum and policies in Canadian schools. 

At the event in Kamloops, some counter protesters asked, “Parent’s rights to do what?” Some people supporting the 1 Million March 4 Children insist that a parent has the right to know if their child would prefer to use a different name or pronouns in school, and the right to prevent such changes. 

Experts say this move puts trans kids at risk. Research shows that the risk for depression and suicide drops when transgender youth use chosen names. And according to the Infants Act, children can make their own health decisions independent of their guardian’s wishes. 

There are many other examples where upholding the rights of children, when they are old enough to articulate their own needs, above the rights of parents becomes critical for their own safety. For instance, most people who experienced physical abuse as children say the most serious abuse came from parents or step-parents, according to Statistics Canada. 

Protesters also rallied against what they describe as the “indoctrination of children,” which includes sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) policies in schools, gender affirming medical care, gender-neutral bathrooms and all-ages drag events. When asked how interacting with drag performers was different from a visit with Santa, one protester told The Wren, “Santa’s gotta go too.”

Read more: How does SOGI 123 show up in schools?

Among the counter-protesters, nerves were high and some said that they couldn’t sleep the night before the rally, fearful of low turnout and protester violence. Many parents of queer kids shared that their children were afraid to go to school. 

One such parent told The Wren, “I didn’t know what to expect today, but I am overwhelmed by the support from the community.”

Educators came prepared with handouts designed to counter the misinformation around SOGI in schools. For instance, many people don’t realize that SOGI is an optional resource that is adapted by local teachers to suit the unique needs of their students.

These school-based interventions, such as clubs, policies and curriculum, support 2SLGBTQIA+ students in feeling safer have been proven to improve health outcomes. 

Research shows that 2SLGBTQIA+ youth are among the most at-risk of bullying and harassment alongside lower levels of family and community support. As a result, they disproportionately face health challenges such as substance use, suicidal thoughts and other forms of emotional distress. School-based interventions benefit all students and could lead to four fewer suicide attempts each year at a typical B.C. school, the researchers found.

One teacher who carried a hundred-plus page printout of all SD73 SOGI policy materials was disappointed with the protesters unwillingness to engage in discussion and told The Wren, “They won’t even look at the evidence.”