Protests over LGBTQ school policies descend on government buildings and parking lots in Newfoundland

Hundreds of people marched on government buildings and parking lotsin St. John's, Grand Falls-Windsor and Corner Brookon Wednesday one side protesting LGBTQ programs and policies in schools, the other a counter-protest in support of LGBTQ rights.

In St. John's, just over 100 people, a mixture of adults and children,gathered on the front lawn of the Confederation Building as part of the national"1 Million March 4 Children" protest against schools teaching children about gender and sexual diversity. Roughly double that amount showed up on the front steps of the provincial legislature as a counter-protest.

The two sides largely kept their distance until partway through a series of speeches from the counter protest, when one counter-protester screamed at the group gatheredon the lawn. Two protesters from the lawn then walked into the middle of the counter-protest group and began shouting back.

The situation briefly became tense whenayoung boy began to cry as his mother screamed into the faces of the counter-protesters and put up her middle finger. The boy began to scream at the group as well, andRoyal Newfoundland Constabulary officers intervened to keep both sides apart.

Outside that brief interaction, both sides were able to freely deliver their messages.

WATCH | Protesters and LGBTQ supporters face off in St. John's:

Clash at Confederation Building over sex ed and LGBTQ rights

1 year ago

Duration 1:40

A crowd of protesters was met by a larger crowd of supporters in St. Johns this morning. The duelling rallies were part of a national day of action over school policies and LGBTQ rights.

Counter-protester Robert Kenny told CBC News he's "lost family members" to the anti-trans movement.

"It's sad to see that children who are making courageous decisions and stepping out of their comfort zone are not supported in that, or the support seems conditional, or it comes with a heavy price to pay," said Kenny.

"With a lot of the people I see supporting those rights, theseare a forward-looking population raising good kids."

Kenny said he could have benefited from gender identity conversations while growing up.

"In contrast to that we had homophobic principals, homophobic teachers and homophobic students who were not course-corrected, and for that reason a lot of us had to leave this province."

The counter-protest crowd included Trent Langdon, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association, members of the provincial NDP and Progressive Conservative parties, and several unions and their members.Former PC leader Ches Crosbie, was also there, mingling mostly with the protesters.

On Wednesday afternoonPC MHAPaul Dinn issued a statement that said he was pleased to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with members of the LGBTQ community at the counter-protest on behalf of the party.

"Hate has no place in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Dinn, MHA for Topsail-Paradise,in the statement.

"Members of our party and caucus have attended each No Space for Hate rally and will continue to do so in the future."

'Isn't a bad thing'

Agroup in the hundredsalso gathered at a Sobeys grocery store parking lot in Grand Falls-Windsor, roughly around the same time as the protests and counter-protests kicked off elsewhere in Newfoundland and the rest of Canada.

That group was also divided with some calling for "family freedom" and others supporting LGBTQ rights.

Kim Penton told CBC News she believes sexual education belongs at home and not in schools.

"I really don't agree with what they're teaching in schools. The curriculum is horrible," Penton said.

Nevaeh James said she was there to supportLGBTQ rights. Being a part of the community "isn't a bad thing," she said.

"There's more to it than what people think," she said.

"I don't think what they're doing is right. You shouldn't force anyone to be someone they're not and force them into a closet they don't want to be in and force them to come out to a family that is not supportive."

Protest organizer Dana Metcalfe led the group in Grand Falls-Windsor, claimingschools are removing parental rights bykeeping identities, sexualities and behavioural changes private.

Metcalfe said she supports the LGBTQ community.

"We don't hate you, this has nothing to do with you and we're here to support your children, too," she said.

However, critics and researchers say the term "parental rights" is a misnomer,as it doesn't address the concerns of LGBTQ parents or parents of LGBTQ children.

Metcalfe is currentlyfacing charges of criminal harassment and causing a disturbance, which relate to a "surprise convoy" protest outside the home of Premier Andrew Fureythis summer. Shane Sweeney, who is also charged in relation to that protest, attended the St. John's protest on Wednesday. Both haveconditions to stay away from Furey's home and not have any contact with him and a family member.

School district advises staff not to engage protesters

Protester Wendy Short said she's concerned about being kept in the dark with what is being taught to her daughter in Grade 7. She said her daughter was asked by her teacher to fill out a form indicating what "name" she would like to be called.

"It's about being included. When you're asking children, who can't make sound decisions for life, finances, living every day as an adult, it's confusing," Short said.

"My childwanted to know why she could be called another name at school and come home and still be this person."

The Newfoundland and Labrador English School District curriculum is available online.

WATCH:Rallies and counter-rallies in Corner Brook and Grand Falls-Windsor

Scenes from LGBTQ-focused protests in Corner Brook and Grand Falls-Windsor

1 year ago

Duration 2:29

There were shouting matches, confrontations and community divisions on display at rallies in several N.L. communities. CBC journalists captured these scenes in Corner Brook and Grand Falls-Windsor.

The districtissued a notice about Wednesday's march to staff and administration, advising teachers and employees not to engage with any protesters who show up on school properties. The notice alsoasked teachers to keep school doors locked and be aware of who they were letting into buildings.

On the west coast of Newfoundlandcounter-protesters clashed with protestors in a heated discussion early into the event.

Thatevent took place in front of city hall, beginning a counter-protestthat drew morethan 140 people, mostly consisting of GrenfellCampus students, community members, the mayor and citycouncillors.

The protest group had about a dozen people.

"I think there's a lot of misinformation about what's happening to the children. We want the children to be safe. We want them to feel safe to talk about who they are," said counter-protester Quinn Jesso.

"A lot of people seem to think that if somebody comes out at a young age as trans or non-binary that surgeries happen right away. That's not how things go."

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