Rallies Across Canada Call for Parental Rights Against Gender Ideology

The protests were held as a response to parents’ concern over sexual and gender identity material being taught in schools.

People rally in support of parental rights at Queen's Park in Toronto on Oct. 21, 2023. Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times

A number of rallies were held in cities across the country on Oct. 21 to ask for parental rights to be respected.

Rallies were organized in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax, Fredericton, St. John’s, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, Whitehouse, Charlottetown, and more.

The event in Toronto featured a speech by Scott Newgent, an American who has undergone gender change surgery and appeared in the documentary “What is A Woman.”

Scott Newgent speaks at a parental rights rally at Queen's Park in Toronto on Oct. 21, 2023. Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times

Pro-parental rights protesters demonstrate in St. Catharines. Ont., on Oct. 21, 2023. Courtesty Karen Hilts

“I’m a woman, despite having altered my body surgically with hormones to look like a man,” Newgent said.

The speaker warned against children undergoing procedures to alter their bodies to fit their gender identity, saying that it has devastating consequences for them both physically and mentally.

“No child is born in the wrong body,” Newgent said.

The events followed the 1 Million March held in many of the same cities on Sept. 20 which was created as a response to parents’ concerns over sexual and gender identity material being taught in schools.

“This is a protest by parents who are quite concerned about the indoctrination of their children on sexuality, and the sexualization of children in the schools, on issues specifically with SOGI [sexual orientations and gender identities],” said Vincent Gircys, who joined the protest in Toronto.

Pro-parental rights protesters march in Abbotsford, B.C., on Oct. 21, 2023. Courtesty Odessa Orlewicz

“That’s the sexual orientation, gender identity put forward by the United Nations, and the issue of transgenderism within the classrooms, and how that’s very confusing to a lot of children.”

Kasia Poplawski, who also took part in the protest in Toronto, said it’s not the place for schools to teach gender ideology issues.

“Let the kids be innocent. Let them be playful, they don’t have developed minds,” she said.

Just one day before the protests, the province of Saskatchewan passed its Parental Rights Bill, which amends the Education Act to require schools to seek parental consent if students under 16 want to change their gender pronouns or identity. A similar law was previously enacted in New Brunswick.

“We’re happy that parents are going to be able to have a say in their children’s education [in those provinces],” said protest participant Maureen Sullivan. “There are age-appropriate material, and there are age-inappropriate material, and a parent has the final say on what that is.”

A pro-parental rights protester is seen with counter-protesters in the background at Queen's Park in Toronto on Oct. 21, 2023. Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times

Counter Protests

The protest events also drew counter-protesters.

In Toronto, police formed a wall between the two groups after counter-protestors tried to disrupt the event and shouted insults at the pro-parental rights protesters.

They also encircled parental rights supporters in an attempt to interfere with the speeches with loud music and chants.

Jeff Sandes contributed to this report.