Horns honking, speeches projected over loudspeakers and chants of 含羞草研究社淐anada has one flag,含羞草研究社� could be heard across downtown Kelowna, as hundreds of people gathered for the 1 Million March 4 Children event on September 20.

Approximately 500 people stood in support of the event and cheered for speeches that called for the abolition of gender-affirming care, including the use of preferred pronouns, gender-diverse education and sex education in public schools.

Adults could be seen holding signs that read 含羞草研究社淣o to SOGI, no to gender ideology,含羞草研究社� while children in the crowd of demonstrators held signs saying 含羞草研究社淒on含羞草研究社檛 impose your beliefs on us.含羞草研究社�

Approximately six years ago in B.C., an educational resource called Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) was implemented to be used by teachers, families and students with the goal of improving understanding and inclusion for all people in addition to educating people on 2SLGBTQIA+ identities and the issues the queer community faces.

Gender and sexual identity-inclusive education is not a formal class, but rather a resource designed to help educators, parents and students feel more comfortable with their own, and other含羞草研究社檚 unique identity.

All people, including heterosexual and cis-gendered folks, have a sexual orientation and gender identity and use pronouns like he, she and they.

Heather Lucier, a local pastor and organizer of the march in Kelowna, explained that the event is being held in congruence with the 1 Million March for Children that is taking place in Ottawa and across the country.

Lucier said that the march is not about SOGI education and is instead about 含羞草研究社減arents maintaining and having a right to decide what their children are taught in school.含羞草研究社�

Advocates from the Kelowna Pride Society and Advocacy Canada chose not to organize a formal counter-protest due to safety concerns and instead will be hosting a gender-affirming and inclusive event in October.

There was, however, a group of rainbow-adorned folks who attended the event to share messages highlighting the importance of queer visibility and inclusion.

The co-chair of the Kelowna Pride Society Claire House, said that the atmosphere at the event was tense and that they experienced abuse directed at the queer community who were in attendance in opposition to the march.

House explained that SOGI education and teaching youth about all types of people helps to prevent bullying and create safe spaces for all people.

含羞草研究社淭hey say they want to protect kids, we want to protect kids as well,含羞草研究社� said House.

They explained that 含羞草研究社渕isinformation含羞草研究社� about the alleged 含羞草研究社渟exualization (sic) indoctrination, and so-called harm to children,含羞草研究社� being shared at the march is not true.

含羞草研究社淭he number one thing that people who are interested can do is go out there and educate themselves含羞草研究社� This is about creating environments in which bullying is tackled, children are safe, included and in which every child can fully accept and be themselves.含羞草研究社�

Many Queer advocates across Kelowna spoke out against the anti-SOGI march and called on public officials to denounce the 含羞草研究社渉ateful and harmful含羞草研究社� messaging being promoted by the March for Children event organizers.

City councillor Loyal Wooldridge has been an outspoken advocate for the queer community throughout his career.

含羞草研究社淭he movement against the transgender community has been growing to intentionally dehumanize people. Events that target marginalized members of our community are harmful,含羞草研究社� said Wooldridge.

In response to the demonstrations the Central Okanagan Board of Education also reiterated its commitment to safe and inclusive places to learn.

B.C.含羞草研究社檚 human rights commissioner Kasari Govender also spoke out saying the human rights of trans and LGBTQ2SAI+ people are not up for debate, full stop.

Premier David Eby even put forward a statement.

含羞草研究社淲ithout hesitation, I denounce threats, hate and violence against 2SLGBTQIA+ communities,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淲e are seeing a concerning rise in incidents where trans people are being targeted with threats and violence in person and online.含羞草研究社�

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READ MORE: Queer advocates speak out against anti-gender education march in Kelowna