Protests and counterprotests were held across New Brunswick on Wednesday over gender-inclusive education in schools.
Hundreds of protesters marched throughout the streets of Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton.
It was part of a larger nationwide movement organized by a group called “1MillionMarch4Children”.
According to their website, they want sexual orientation and gender identity education removed from schools.
“We believe in the importance of letting children grow and explore naturally. Children are naturally curious and imaginative,” said a post on the group’s website.
“Our concern is that certain decisions, especially those that have permanent, life-changing consequences, should be made when an individual is mature enough to fully grasp their implications.”
The group is also advocating for the elimination of pronouns, gender ideology, and all-gender bathrooms in schools.
Charline Blakney-Robichaud was one of many speakers at the “1MillionMarch4Children” protest in Moncton. She said parents have the right to be involved in raising their kids.
“Parents have an inherent right to be involved in the raising and nurturing of their children. I believe it’s time for parents to claim that right and the authority over their children,” she told the crowd in attendance.
“Parents are the authority over their own children. Not the school, not the teachers, not the government, not anyone else.”
Quoting Premier Blaine Higgs, Blakney-Robichaud said keeping information from parents is “just not right.”
Counterprotests were also held in all three cities by members and allies of the 2LGBTQIA+ community.
Caitlin Furlong was among the many who took part in the Moncton counterprotest.
“It’s really disheartening to see so many people and kids on the other side. They keep saying that they want kids to be kids. That’s exactly what we want. We want to let kids be themselves, to let kids be kids,” said Furlong.
Gender identity policy changes in New Brunswick
The rallies in New Brunswick come as the province has faced controversy related to its gender identity policy in schools.
Policy 713 now requires parental consent before teachers can verbally use a preferred name and pronoun for students under 16.
Students under 16 have always required permission from their parents to change their preferred name and pronoun on official records.
Education Minister Bill Hogan said the change does not apply to students who want to use a nickname.
“What we’re talking about is a name that’s attached to a different gender than what they’re identified with with their parents,” Hogan said in August.
That change is “clearly targeted at only trans and non-binary students,” according to Child and Youth Advocate Kelly Lamrock, who called the updated policy “overtly discriminatory.”
Guidance counsellors, psychologists and social workers can use a trans or non-binary child’s preferred name or pronoun without parental consent when they are offering support to them.
Lamrock said the department has accepted “clear evidence” that it is “unethical and ineffective” for professionals working with children to call them names they do not wish to be called.
