200+ protest sex-ed curriculum content in Chatham

More than 200 people took to downtown Chatham streets Wednesday as part of the cross-Canada 1 Million March 4 Children to protest sexual orientation and gender identity teaching in schools.

Protesters marched peacefully from Tecumseh Park through downtown, stopping at the Civic Center, where there were chants of “Leave our kids alone.” Many later moved on to the Chatham Library on Queen Street.

Kerry Byrne told the crowd before the march started the school system wants to sexualize and indoctrinate children.

“This is about the stuff they want to teach kids in school,” she said.

Byrne admits she hasn’t had time to read the entire sex-ed curriculum, but finds some things she has read “disturbing.”

Like many march participants, Byrne said she has no problem with LGBTQ community.

“It will say ‘Love is love,’ but we don’t need to push this on our kids,” she said.

An issue of concern is teachers being encouraged not to tell parents if their children want to use a different pronoun at school.

Wallaceburg resident Michelle Medd, who walked with her husband, Jeff, and son Kayden, 12, is concerned kids “can basically change their pronouns at school and the teacher does not have to inform us.”

Jeff Medd said he’s concerned kids are not being taught enough important subjects in school because ideologies and issues are being pushed on them. “I just want kids to go learn what they need to learn.”

Discussion of sexual issues should be dealt with by parents or guardians, he said.

This is not “anti-anything,” he added, it’s just that parents want to know what’s going on with their children and not have anything hidden from them.

The march was held by a small group of LGBTQ supporters in front of the Civic Centre.

Asked why it was important to be there, Hunter Johnson, 23, said, “I’m trans, I transitioned in high school.”

Johnson, who was part of a 2014 student council advising Ontario’s education minister on updating the sex-education curriculum to include gender and sexual orientation, said, “I don’t like how our progress has backslid over the past few years.

“I transitioned in 2017 and it feels way more dangerous to be trans now than it did then and that should not be the case,” he added.

Johnson said some fear “it’s a contagion, that if (their kids) hear about it, their kids will become gay, they will become queer or they will become trans, but that is not the case.”

He believes if parents aren’t supportive, they shouldn’t know if their child wants to go by another pronoun. If kids are not telling parents things, it’s probably because they don’t feel safe telling them, he added.

“This is all about parents’ discomfort instead of kids’ safety,” he said.

If children don’t feel safe telling their parents they may be gay or aren’t sure about their gender identity, Byrne said, “I think that’s OK to tell the teachers, but maybe the teachers should set up a meeting with the parents. ”

Chatham resident Randy Breton, who took part in the march, believes the education system is overstepping its boundaries with the sex-education curriculum.

“Your kids are your kids,” Breton said.

“My parents raised me and taught me the right and the wrong and the good and the bad,” he said, adding, “That might not be the same right and wrong and good and bad for you (that) it is for me. ”

He has a problem with the pronoun issue.

“It’s time you’ve got to draw a line in the sand some place, this is a good a start as any,” Breton said.

Elizabeth Dorner, 82, who retired from teaching nearly 30 years ago, said “I believe that we really have to make sure the children are being taught what they should be taught.”

She added if she was still teaching, “I wouldn’t teach this stuff.”

Dorner said if one of her students said they wanted to use a different pronoun, “I would say, ‘What do your parents think about this?’ ”

The CK Gay Pride Association didn’t take part in a counter-protest of the march.

“I don’t think we’re going to change anyone’s opinion. . . I don’t think that’s what this is about,” said its president, Marianne Willson.

She has no problem with anyone expressing their opinions, “providing it isn’t hateful and it doesn’t affect other humans.”

The association opened its clubhouse, Bill’s Place, Wednesday as a safe, supportive place for anyone affected by anything they heard during the march.

The association supports the sex-education curriculum and believes there is nothing to be afraid of, she said.

“The curriculum is very clear,” Willson said, “its age-appropriate conversations so young people can ask questions and feel safe enough to get answers that they feel they need.”

Byrne called the turnout “amazing.

“We got a lot of support here, people from all walks of life,” she added.

Byrne said there will be more marches, with the next likely targeting school boards.

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