The Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre was the site of duelling protests this morning as 2SLGBTQIA+ teachings and sexual education in schools were polarized subjects of debate in Sault Ste. Marie.
The Sault was one of dozens of communities across Canada and the U.S. where supporters of a grassroots movement called “Hands Off Our Kids” marched to get “biases and indoctrination” out of schools.
The so called #1MillionMarch4Children claims their focus is on protecting children against "LGBTQIA+ ideology in school system," but "not to fight back against the LGBTQ community."
Their mission is also to “safeguard children from explicit sexual content, ensuring that parental consent remains paramount.”
Aiming to denounce the local march, members of The Klub 2SLGBTQ+ Community Centre organized a counter protest and began gathering with Sault Pride volunteers and supporters at city hall around 9 a.m.
Brayden Jannine, a Sault resident who recently got into drag performance, is incredibly appreciative of her community rallying together during a time she believes has been very divisive.
“I feel like it’s just another way to bring fear mongering out of people; get them scared of something they don’t have control of sort of thing,” she told SooToday. “I want kids to go to school, be educated about everything, and feel safe in those spaces — especially queer children.”
Brayden Burmaster, another local drag performer, claims the protesters are a small but noisy group who are out of touch with the Pride community and the education system itself.
“It’s about the amount of exposure,” he says. “Queer people do make up a very small percentage of spaces, but we are still there. You might not necessarily have that exposure or that friend or family member where you get to know them on a personal level and know that this is a good person. So really, they’re just out of touch.”
“But it’s all about love for us — that’s what it’s always been about. We’re here today to show them that.”
Over at the former Sears parking lot, supporters of the Hands Off Our Kids movement gathered to prepare for their downtown march, which coincided with other like-minded marches held across the country today.
They left the Station Mall shortly after 10 a.m. and walked past the courthouse and Algoma District School Board’s head office before descending upon city hall at around 11 a.m.
Charlene Williston, a grandmother and one of Wednesday’s marchers, voiced her concerns about Pride-friendly themes being taught to her grandchildren at school.
“I don’t like how the government is pushing their agendas on everybody,” she says. “When they’re adults, they can make their own decisions. I have a lot of gay people who I know and I love. I have nothing against them. But don’t push it on the kids.”
“It’s not a Pride Day or week or month — now it’s a Pride Year.”
“We’re not haters, we’re trying to save the children,” Charllotte Matsen echoed. “Let kids be kids.”
Once the marchers reached city hall, they were instantly met with a lineup of shouting and disdain from the Pride community.
Several one-on-one arguments required police officers to step in and separate the two sides. Some peaceful discussions were had as well.
Pride supporters could be seen chanting “love not hate” on the front lawn, while local march organizers gathered their group closer to city hall’s main entrance to denounce the sexual education curriculum in schools.
Wednesday's clash resembled a protest and counter protest that took place outside the downtown library last January when arguments over Drag Story Time readings boiled over.
Marchers exited the area around 11:30 a.m. while Pride supporters left at noon.
Mayor Matthew Shoemaker took to social media this morning to criticize the Hands Off Our Kids demonstration.
“The City of Sault Ste. Marie stands with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and their right to participate fully in society as equals, and to live authentically and free of discrimination,” he wrote. “Hatred and anti-2SLGBTQIA+ ideas have no place in our community.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoed a similar sentiment online as well.
“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.”