Around 250 people gathered to demonstrate against children being taught sexual minority issues in schools in Calgary. .“Leave our kids alone,” said protest organizer Mahmoud Mourra at the Saturday event. ."Our kids, our choice." .The protest saw people demonstrate in front of the Calgary Municipal Building. Protestors waved Canadian and “F [Justin] Trudeau” flags and held signs with messages such as “Leave our kids alone” and “Protecting faith, family, freedom.” .Protestors did chants such as “My kids, my choice” and “Let kids be kids.” About one-third of those who showed up were Muslims. .About 60 counterprotestors stood near the Calgary Municipal Building to offer support to sexual minorities. Counterprotestors waved pro-sexual minority flags and held signs with messages such as “Protect queer youth” and “Inclusive education saves lives.” .Calgary Police Service officers cordoned off an area for these counterprotestors. They tried to block protestors’ signs. .Mourra said he organized the protest because when the Alberta government implemented gay-straight alliances in schools in 2016, he took his children out and homeschooled them. Now that his son has to go to high school, he said he is back to the beginning. .The organizer went on to say he “needs to protect my kids which are underage to have the freedom of choice to decide what they want to decide or do whatever they want to do when they’re eligible to make the right decision.” He added students are being brainwashed with gender ideology. .Alberta Parents’ Union Executive Director Jeff Park said his group is not pushing for one particular ideology or another. .“What we do support is parents having a say, parents having an influence over how their kids will be educated,” said Park. .“It’s been clear from plenty of the events this month that the balance has shifted.” .Park said people supported anti-bullying measures for sexual minority children. The bullying has shifted towards children not wanting to participate in Pride Month events. .A teacher at Londonderry School in Edmonton took it upon herself to blast Muslim students in her class for not wanting to go to Pride events on June 1, with one of them recording the rant and putting it on the internet..READ MORE: LISTEN: Edmonton teacher lambastes her Muslim students for skipping Pride events."Do you think it's acceptable to not show up because you think there are some Pride activities going on at school?" said the teacher. .The teacher said these students showed their opinion by hanging out at the mall during Pride activities..Counterprotestor Drama Cousins said it is fine to talk about sexual minorities in schools. .“They should allow all love,” said Cousins. ."Parental rights are irrelevant." .Cousins said people should be focused on every one’s rights. While there were more people on the other side, she said it was good a sizeable counterprotest happened..Counterprotestor Noah Brawn said education is “all about learning about different kinds of people.” .“By learning something, it doesn’t make you that thing,” said Brawn. .“It just expands your perspective and helps you become a better world citizen.” .Brawn acknowledged it is useful to learn about different points of view. As a transgender man, he said he would not have experienced all of the trauma and depression he did if he learned about gender identity in school. .About 30 people attended a protest against transgender women being allowed in women’s change rooms in City of Calgary facilities in March. .READ MORE: WATCH: Thirty people protest for sex-based rights in Calgary.“For having a big biological male — no matter how much makeup you put on your face — in the change room with little girls is dangerous,” said protest organizer Anna-Josephine Madelaine. .The protest saw people congregate at Olympic Plaza. Protestors held Canadian and “F Trudeau” flags and had signs with messages such as “[Jyoti] Gondek selected, not elected” and “If you are strong and free, it’s time to stand on guard.”
