Some locals were upset with the 1MillionMarch4Children as it travelled trough downtown Kelowna, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023.

(GABRIELLE ADAMS / iNFOnews.ca)

While the 1MillionMarch4Children was drowned out by pride demonstrations in Kamloops, hundreds of people took to the streets in Kelowna to protest sexual orientation and gender identity being taught in school.  

At 10 a.m. in Kamloops, around twenty protesters gathered carrying signs reading slogans like "leave our kids alone" and "God created them man and woman."

Although their march was scheduled to start at 11 a.m., the small group of protesters left early when they realized they were outnumbered by at least ten to one by a Pride celebration on either side on Columbia Street.

Chanting "no place for hate," counter protesters appeared to celebrate their victory.

Further down the road, 10 blocks from the courthouse, roughly 30 people arrived to stage their continued anti-trans protest in front of the School District 73 office. Police were stationed nearby to monitor, but protesters were largely quiet while holding their signs.

1MillionMarch4Children protestors outnumbered by ten to one in Kamloops, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023.

(LEVI LANDRY / iNFOnews.ca)

In Kelowna, roughly 500 protesters were gathering at Stuart Park to listen to speeches from various organizers and spokespeople.

READ MORE: Kelowna minister sues Quebec government, hints canceling his 'freedom' rally triggered wildfires

Art Lucier, minister at the controversial Harvest Ministries International church, stirred up the crowd with an impassioned speech about the government, corrupt unions, COVID-19 vaccines and pedophiles corrupting Canada.

His speech was met with loud cheers of approval from those gathered, who threw their signs up into the air reading things like: “education not indoctrination” and “hands off our children.”

Behind the stage, a group of around 20 counter protestors stood proudly waving pride and transgender flags.

Counter-protestors gathered in Kelowna to stand up against transphobic march.

(GABRIELLE ADAMS / iNFOnews.ca)

One of the counter protesters, Mikayla, a student at UBC Okanagan, told iNFOnews.ca the display was both upsetting and disheartening.

“I think now, queer people and queer youth are really starting to get the idea that we have to be the ones to make a stand and make sure that people know that we're here and we're not going to go away, we're not going to be scared away,” Mikayla said. “Queer people will always be here. Queer people make up for a lot more of the population than they assume and it's really sad. It's really sad to see.”

When asked why he was protesting, Lucier said that he believed SOGI should be kept out of elementary classrooms. SOGI is the abbreviation for sexual orientation and gender identity.

“We do not believe that it should be in elementary schools. We believe they should focus on teaching math, grammar, science and not confusing children who are going through puberty, who are already confused and feeling weird,” he said. “And not only not confuse them by bringing up things that their parents won't talk about with them yet but when the children are told not to tell the parents, that's an issue.”

However, SOGI is not part of any school curriculum. Rather, it is a resource for educators to help them breach important conversations around sexuality, gender and identity with students.

“There is no SOGI curriculum. However, throughout K-12 curriculum and school activities, students and teachers explore the topic of human rights and what it means to value diversity and respect differences and how to respond to discrimination," according to the BC Government website.

One counter protester, Karma Kooistra, a recent high school graduate, said gender and sexuality are scarcely taught in schools.

“We feel like everyone has a right to know who they are and if they feel like they are trans, then their parents should love them for that and they shouldn't try to convince them otherwise,” Karma said. “I feel like we're here because (the SOGI protestors) think we are something we are not and we're trying to teach them that the hate that they are spreading to their children isn't what we are trying to teach.”

Opposing sides met at Stuart Park, Kelowna, carrying transphobic signs or messages of Pride and acceptance.

(GABRIELLE ADAMS / iNFOnews.ca)

The message on the other side of the argument was more murky, with arguments about big pharma, COVID-19 vaccines and SOGI teaching programs circulating through the conversation. 

When asked if she thought the “problem” of SOGI and the COVID-19 vaccine were linked, one protester, Rosanna Zozman, said she did.

“Parents are concerned when their children are being basically fed things that they don't support,” she said.

After the speeches, protesters left for a short march across downtown, echoing chants of “the children belong to the parents”, “Canada has one flag” and “leave our kids alone.”

Counter-protestors held signs or Pride and inclusion in downtown Kelowna.

(GABRIELLE ADAMS / iNFOnews.ca)

Their procession was met with some emotional responses, as local LGBTQIA2S+ allies shouted their disappointment and frustrations from the streets.

The distressed locals were met with even louder chanting and one woman yelling “your religion not mine.”

One man branched off from the crowd to have a conversation with an upset local. The two stood for some time having a heated discussion about gender identity.

Caleb Hart came out to join fellow LGBTQIA2S+ protesters in solidarity. Hart told iNFOnews.ca the march was shocking and upsetting to see.

“It's scary above all else. It is... it just sort of makes my heart sink to see that despite everything that's moved forward throughout these past years and how much work we've been doing that there's still so much of this negativity and hatred within our own communities. It's hard to see.”

1MillionMarch4Children protestors gather at Stuart Park in Kelowna, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023.

(GABRIELLE ADAMS / iNFOnews.ca)

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