No Space for Hate (Blog)
Introduction
On September 20, 2023, Canada saw perhaps one of the largest organized protests against the 2SLGBTQIA+ community throughout recent history. Under the label of “1 Million March of Children”, the organizers tried to claim that this was to “protect children from indoctrination and sexualization”, which was a pretty way of disguising their explicit homophobia and transphobia. Fortunately, these protestors were met by counter-protests in many cities across the country (with counter-protestors outnumbering the bigots in most large cities). However, this is an important warning sign of the rising levels of hate and vitriol directed towards the 2SLGBTQIA+ community – and a reminder that the fight for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, dignity, and equity is not over.
Breaking Down Myths
The “1 Million March for Children” (1MMC) states that their purpose is to “advocating for the elimination of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) curriculum, pronouns, gender ideology and mixed bathrooms in schools”. However, much of their rhetoric is based in ignorance and hatred. Here’s a bit of a deep dive into some of their myth-based arguments, and the myth-busting realities.
The Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Curriculum
According to Egale Canada’s “Every Class in Every School” Survey, 64% of 2SLGBTQIA+ students report feeling unsafe in schools. The SOGI curriculum is one method to combat this – by helping to reduce ignorance amongst students, equipping teachers with the skills to respond to incidents of bullying and bigotry, and emphasizing the importance of equity and dignity for all students.
What is actually being taught? Here’s a brief outline of the Ontario Health & Physical Education curriculum:
Grade 1 – identifying body parts including genitalia, about their senses, basic hygiene habits, and to use positive language for their bodies.
Grade 2 – basic stages of human development and body changes.
Grade 3 – characteristics of healthy relationships, consent, responding to bullying, how differences make people unique & how to show respect.
Grade 4 – physical changes that happen during puberty.
Grade 5 – factors that may affect development of one’s identity.
Grade 6 – building a healthy foundation for relationships, impacts of pornography, harms of stereotypes.
Grade 7 – communication and consent in relationships, prevention of STIs, factors involved in sexual health decisions.
Grade 8 – sources of support for sexual health, gender and sexuality, contraception, and navigating relationships.
So, no – children are not being “indoctrinated” into becoming trans and queer. They are learning about various terminology to describe themselves, how to keep themselves and others safe, and how to develop healthy and positive relationships. SOGI-based curriculum helps students to feel like they belong, gives students the space to explore their personal identity, and helps teach students to value and celebrate diversity and differences.
Note: if you actually want to talk about “indoctrination” of students, take a closer look at the harms of cisnormativity and heteronormativity, as explored in this blog post.
Gender Identification in Schools
The 1MMC claims to oppose the use of pronouns in schools. But, if that were the case, then teachers could no longer go by “Ms” or “Mr” (as that is a gendered honorific), and no pronouns could be used for anyone – whether teacher, student, in books, or in math problems. That means no “she/her”, or “he/him” – because those are pronouns too. So, removing pronouns would mean that only names could be used to refer to people.
But wait – the 1MMC has issues with names, too. Specifically, they have issues with trans students who may want to go by a different name than what their legal name is. Which would also include nicknames – so if someone wanted a shortened version of their name (e.g. “Kris” instead of “Kristen”), or if someone went by – say, their middle name – that shouldn’t be allowed, according to the 1MMC.
The 1MMC – further expanding their levels of ignorance and transphobia – also claim that trans children are being permitted to transition without the knowledge or consent of their parents. Once again, this is blatantly false. If a child comes out as trans at school but not at home, the most that they could do would be to change their name, pronouns, and perhaps some of their appearance (perhaps they wear different clothing or have their hair styled/cut differently – however, this typically requires parental support). The child may also be able to join a 2SLGBTQIA+ supportive club, and/or find a mentor/teacher that they feel comfortable talking to.
That’s it. Anything else related to transition – including medical care – requires parental consent and support.
Parent vs. Children Rights
One big source of conflict is the idea of “parent’s rights”. Some parents claim that their rights are being violated by school board policies – for example, in many school boards, students can change their name and/or pronouns socially without their parents’ consent. I want to emphasize the word socially – they are not magically getting new identification with a different name or gender marker. It simply means that the student told their teacher and/or friends that they wanted to go by a different name or different pronouns. That’s it. However, this is a source of objection for those who support the 1MMC group – they believe that parents should have the “right” to know if their child wants to change their name and/or pronouns.
Why would a student want to change their name and/or pronouns without their parents’ knowledge? Well, for some students, this is a matter of safety. Unfortunately, far too many queer and trans kids are not safe at home – if a teacher were to “out” them to their parents (by revealing that they want to go by a different name and/or pronouns), this can put them in danger of experiencing physical, emotional, and/or spiritual violence. According to the Trevor Project, only 1 in 3 2SLGBTQIA+ youth say that they live in a 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming home – that means that two-thirds of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth live in homes where the consequences of outing could be dangerous. This is evidenced by the fact that 25-40% of homeless youth in Canada identify as 2SLGBTQIA+.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that kids have the right to freedom of though, expression, association, and a reasonable expectation of personal privacy (so long as there’s no threat to personal safety). Thus, parents’ rights do not supersede the rights of children. Parents do not have a right to do know their child’s gender, chosen name, or pronouns – it is their responsibility to create a safe environment that fosters personal growth and affirmation. When they do so, they will know about any changes that a child may want to make. If a child is hiding a fundamental part of who they are, it is often because some part of their environment feels unsafe – and only the child can know if and when it is safe to come out. This is why the idea of “forced outing” is so harmful: it is a direct violation of the child’s rights and a potential threat to their safety.
Gender Neutral Washrooms
I think we can all agree on one point – everyone needs to use the washroom. Thus, there needs to be washrooms that people can use that people feel safe in. Yet, the washroom continues to set up significant barriers for trans and gender diverse students. In addition to the fact that some trans and gender diverse students do not feel comfortable in gendered washrooms (which may sometimes cause gender dysphoria), safety is also a concern.
According to Egale Canada’s “Every Class in Every School” Survey, 56% of 2SLGBTQIA+ students view washrooms as being unsafe areas (closely followed by change rooms, at 53%). Trans students also reported being prevented or discouraged from using a washroom that corresponds with their gender; many others report that there are no (or not enough) washrooms that correspond with their gender at school. As a result, many trans students avoid using the washroom by avoiding consuming food and drink – this can lead to negative health impacts such as dehydration, urinary tract infections, and kidney diseases.
Some people think that trans students should be limited to using staff bathrooms, rather than having a gender-neutral washroom accessible to all. However, this is highly problematic as it can feel stigmatizing to have to request a “special” bathroom, and may risk outing the student to their peers. Fundamentally, having gender-neutral washrooms provide a safer alternative to students of all genders – it also helps to teach young people about the importance of respecting people of all identities, and respecting people’s privacy and autonomy. The existence of a gender-neutral washroom will not magically make someone trans – just as the existence of women’s bathrooms doesn’t magically make a man a woman. Rather, gender-neutral washrooms are just about ensuring everyone can use the washroom in a space where they feel safe.
Conclusion
The vast majority of evidence, research, and personal accounts from trans and queer individuals directly counters the narrative pushed by the 1MMC group. The reality is that trans and queer students experience victimization in schools – which is why things like SOGI curriculum, policies protecting their rights and preventing outing, and gender-neutral washrooms – are absolutely vital.
So, what do we do now?
Well, unfortunately, this is probably not over. There were many people who participated in the 1MMC marches across Canada – while some may have been doing so from a place of ignorance, many were doing so from a place of hate. There were numerous reports of 1MMC protestors becoming verbally and physically aggressive towards the 2SLGBTQIA+ and allied counter-protestors, while speeches and signs were filled with hateful rhetoric and slurs. This is not the end – it is only the beginning of a downward spiral of hatred and bigotry.
This is evidenced by the Conservative Party’s recent motion targeting gender-affirming care for youth. The CPC also approved a motion to exclude transgender women from women’s prisons, shelters, locker rooms, bathrooms, and sports. With the growing support for the Conservative Party, this places Canada at a significant risk for following in the footsteps of the United States in committing a genocide against the trans and queer community. It is for this exact reason that the 1MMC targeted children: a population that is often the first to be targeted in bigoted movements and policies.
This is not a time for neutrality. It is more important than ever for people to stand up to this rising level of hate – to make it clear that there is no space for hate in Canada and beyond.
How can we do this?
Become a Pride Defender by countering hateful bigots at protests and 2SLGBTQIA+ related events
Monitor hate movements with the Canadian Anti-Hate Network
Share messages of affirmation, activism, and resources on social media
Challenge common stereotypes and myths – whether they are from a family member, a friend, a coworker, on social media, or on the streets
Educate yourself about 2SLGBTQIA+ issues and how to be an ally
Check in with your 2SLGBTQIA+ loved ones
Support local 2SLGBTQIA+ led business and organizations
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – The Lorax
