Protests erupted over LGBTQ content in N.L. schools. So what's actually happening in the classroom?

This year, protests have erupted across the country — including in Newfoundland and Labrador — over curriculum related to sexual orientation and gender in schools.

At three protests held across Newfoundland in September, hundreds of people protested the inclusion of LGBTQ content in the classroom, with some expressing concern over the content itself, and others complaining that schools are excluding parents from their child's education.

Some protesters have said they're worried that curriculum isn't age-appropriate, with some even claiming that K-6 schools are showing sexually explicit content in class.

Krysta Fitzpatrick, a Memorial University sexual education researcher and high school teacher, said that belief is "wildly inaccurate."

"We are not teaching children about sex in any capacity," she said in an interview with CBC News.

So how is LGBTQ content introduced in Newfoundland and Labrador classrooms?

In primary and elementary school, said Fitzpatrick, teachers are using picture books that acknowledge multiple types of families — including those with single parents, adoptive parents, same-sex parents and others.

"It's really just very innocent and wholesome and inclusive," she said.

Even in high school, said Fitzpatrick sex education is largely limited to contraception, pregnancy, consent and prevention of sexually transmitted infections.

"We are, as a province and even as a country, actually very behind in sex education," she said.

According to the Centre for Suicide Prevention, Canadian youth who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual are much more likely to attempt suicide than their straight counterparts, while transgender youth are at even higher risk.

Vanessa McAuley, based in Corner Brook, works with schools to ensure they're following the district's safe and inclusive schools policy, including LGBTQ inclusion.

"We are looking at accepting people for the relationships they choose to have, their identity, who they are. And they should have a safe environment to do that."

McAuley said education inherently includes ideas that don't align with everyone's values. The district's policies on LGBTQ inclusion are intended to create safe spaces for students, she said.