Protests over LGBTQ rights in schools come to a head in Manitoba

Chants of "leave the kids alone" were met with counter-protesters' chants of "protect trans kids" outside the Manitoba Legislature on Wednesday, as hundreds took part in the "1 Million March 4 Children" protest against LGBTQ-inclusive education and sex ed policies in schools.

Separate protests took place in other communities across Canada, including in Brandon, Steinbach, Winkler and Dauphin. There were two in Winnipeg, including one at city hall and one that started at The Forks. 

Tensions rose as the group at The Forks marched to the legislature grounds, where they met counter-protesters. Police stood between the two groups as the Winnipeg Police Service's helicopter circled above.

"We have to pick a side," said protester Carol McGann, 68.

"What I am against is children being indoctrinated, children making decisions and choices based on an adult coming into … a school system," she said. 

She raised concerns young people will make decisions to seek transition care, such as hormone replacement therapy or gender-affirming surgery, "before they are mature enough."

Youth must obtain parental consent and a referral from a health-care professional in order to access the sole clinic in Manitoba that provides gender-affirming care for those under 16. Some experts and advocates say a lack of access to such care can put trans and non-binary youth at risk of potentially life-threatening mental health challenges.

At similar protests across Canada on Wednesday, some parents and socially conservative groups argued LGBTQ-inclusive education and sex ed policies in the classroom and in extracurricular settings contravene "parental rights."

But critics and researchers say the term is a misnomer, because it doesn't address the rights and concerns of LGBTQ parents or parents of LGBTQ children.

The counter-protest at the Manitoba Legislature was "about showing up for youth," said Laura Wiebe, a University of Manitoba social work student and LGBTQ representative in her faculty.

"I don't know if I would be here if it wasn't for my community and people showing me that I can be who I feel inside, and that there's a safe space for me."

Counter-protester Keegan Vergara, who like Wiebe is queer and an LGBTQ representative for the University of Manitoba social work students' association, grew up experiencing "lots of hate and bullying" in grade school.

"Being queer was never something that was ever talked about so I had no understanding of what these feelings were I was experiencing. All I knew is that they were bad because this was just being thrown at me by other kids," said Vergara, 21.

"Now they're bringing these discussions into the classrooms and they're providing space for youth to navigate these feelings without the worries of repercussion that I had, and without having to worry about internalizing these feelings of self-hatred and isolation. So that's what today is about."