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People, signs, music and, megaphones were all present in downtown Saskatoon, as protests and counter protests took place surrounding the government policy requiring parental consent for students to change their names or pronouns.
The 1MillionMarch4Children announced they would be protesting at the Meewasin skating rink by the Delta Bessborough, and a No Space For Hate counter protest was formed as a result.
Protests and counter protests surrounding pronoun policies are taking place by Meewasin @CKOMNews pic.twitter.com/QTGzL9XpTM
— Will Mandzuk (@WMandzuk) September 20, 2024
No Space For Hate organizer Dr. Fran Forsberg said she wouldn’t consider it a counter protest.
“We’re talking about there’s no room for hate in Saskatoon,” said Forsberg, who has two transgender children.
“We wanted to be out here and make sure that gender and sexual diverse people knew that there was love for them,” said Forsberg. “When we know better, we do better, and I just wish people would educate themselves.”
Since the policy changes were introduced last fall, Saskatchewan’s LGBTQ2S+ community has seen growing support.
Forsberg said she has seen both parties get more vocal on this topic since the bill came into place.
“I’ve seen a lot of negative, homophobia, transphobia,” said Forsberg. “Especially in school, which is sad.”
Chalk drawings have now begun in front of the lone protestor in support of bill 137 @CKOMNews pic.twitter.com/mOGzPhenYx
— Will Mandzuk (@WMandzuk) September 20, 2024
Forsberg said she wants people to know there is no room for hate in Saskatoon. The group also placed signs on the grass saying: “Trans kids deserve to grow old”.
A sign at No Space For Hate protest in Saskatoon on Sept. 20, 2024. (Will Mandzuk/650CKOM)
On the other side of the sidewalk was 1MillionMarch4Children’s Shana Bowman, who supports the pronoun policy.
“We’re pushing the leave our kids alone (message),” said Bowman. “It’s not that I’m against the community … but I’m against them putting this in children’s faces when they don’t understand what’s going on themselves at this point.”
Bowman said children should be focusing on other things.
“When you were 12 years old were you thinking about whether or not you needed to have your business down there or not?” asked Bowman. “No, you’re worried about cursive writing.”
Bowman said she has friends who are a part of the LGBTQ2S+ community, and loves and supports them. She is just worried about what this could do to young children.
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