Comedian Colin Mochrie, wife, join transgender daughter at Queen's Park protest - Action News
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Comedian Colin Mochrie, wife, join transgender daughter at Queen's Park protest

Comedian Colin Mochrie and his wife joined their transgender daughter Kinley at a protest at Queen's Park on Thursday, calling on the new PC government to re-think its decision to replace the sex-ed curriculum.

Protestors called on new PC government to re-think decision to replace sex-ed curriculum

Colin Mochrie and wife Deb McGrath joined their transgender daughter Kinley Mocherie (left) at a protest rally at Queen's Park on Thursday. ( Farrah Merali/CBC)

Comedian Colin Mochrie and his wife joined their transgender daughter Kinley at a protest at Queen's Park on Thursday, calling on the new PC government to re-think its decision to replace the sex-ed curriculum.

Premier Doug Ford's government has repealed the curriculum and wants to replace it with one from 20 years ago.

"I grew up in a time when there really wasn't any sexual education," Mochrie said.

"Everything I learned was on the streets, a lot of misinformation a lot of rumours. It was a time of a lot of homophobic slurs, slut shaming, a lot of things that were totally inappropriate and all came from ignorance."

A group of protesters at Queen's Park on Thursday, July 19. (Farrah Merali/CBC)

The sex-ed curriculum taught in 1998 did not cover LGBTQ issues, gender identity, consent,online safety or sexting.

'Unfair and very problematic'

Mochrie quoted from the sex-ed curriculum introduced by the Liberal government that embraces diversity and teaches students about same-sex relationships and how to protect themselves against online bullying.

Kinley Mochrie said replacing it would result in transgender people being "short changed by the education system."

"Being transgender . . . there is a lot of bad information out there. We owe it to everyone to have a solid understanding."

Parents protest against changes to sex-ed curriculum. (Farrah Merali/CBC)

Standing with transgender daughter

It's not the first time that Colin Mochrie has publicly supported his transgender daughter.

In 2017, the Whose Line Is It Anyway star showed support forher transition on social media.

His tweet brought him a lot of attentionpositive and negative.

But the family continues to stand together.

His wife, Deb McGrath, also spoke at the Queen's Park rally on Thursday.

"These kids are talking about [sex] anyway. Give them the facts," she said.

"They will have knowledge that will serve them long beyond their childhood years. If you tell people about trans, if you tell people about gays . . . they are going to know what's going on when the time comes."

Protesters at Queen's Park rally against changes to sex-ed curriculum (Farrah Merali/CBC)

Left in limbo

Meanwhile, Ontario school boards say they have been left in limbo just weeks before students return to classes.

The Ontario Public School Boards' Association said it is yet to receive any direction from the provincialgovernment on the issue.

Earlier this week, Ford said that reverting to the older version of the sex-ed curriculumwould only be temporary until the completion of theconsultations.