Rally in support of SOGI education in schools runs unopposed at B.C. legislature

A rally was held in support of the province’s sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) programs at schools on Saturday, in a far less volatile gathering compared to last month.

On Saturday, people with the group “1 Million Voices for Inclusion” gathered at the lawns of the B.C. legislature to voice support for the LGBTQ+ and specifically trans community.

It was a far cry from the protests that occurred at the B.C. legislature on Sept. 20, when groups against SOGI programs gathered in Victoria, while an anti-protest in support of SOGI education also occurred.

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More than 2,000 people gathered at the legislature on Sept. 20 to rally for or against the group “1 Million March for Children,” which was calling for an end to sexual orientation and gender identity education in Canadian schools.

During that rally, at least two people were arrested, and the demonstration had to end early due to security concerns, according to VicPD.

On Saturday, the number of people outside the legislature was much smaller and faced much less opposition.

“If I had a curriculum like SOGI when I was growing up through school, through junior high, high school, I could have given voice to who I was,” said Scarlett Crombie who was at the rally Saturday.

“I wouldn’t have had to wait 30 years to be authentic and to be myself.”

Similar demonstrations were planned across the province Saturday, including in Nanaimo, Parksville and Port Alberni.

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