Often vocal and passionate voices clashes at Maffeo Sutton Park on Saturday, Oct. 21, during a second rally on sexual orientation and gender identity education. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

second rally

VIDEO: Pro and anti-SOGI groups stage opposing, loud rallies in Nanaimo

Oct 21, 2023 | 4:30 PM

NANAIMO — Tempers flared again between two polar opposite sides of how sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) should be taught in schools.

Just over one month from a rally in Nanaimo around 150-200 people representing both sides of the SOGI debate met first at City Hall, before moving to Maffeo Sutton Park on Saturday, Oct. 21.

Those supporting lessons and information around SOGI in schools outnumbered those against throughout, by a roughly 5:1 ratio at City Hall then around 3:1 at the park.

“I’m a teacher, I’m a mom, I’m queer and I am here to continue to stand over and over again to say that it doesn’t matter how many times you come out, how many times you march, we’re going to keep showing up and keep saying no,” Erica Bakewell, a co-organizer of a pro-SOGI counter demonstration told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Around a half dozen Nanaimo RCMP officers were on scene at both locations, making at least one arrest during the event. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Sides largely kept their distance from each other aside from a small handful of incidents.

Nanaimo RCMP officers were on hand to monitor the situation and engaged verbally, as necessary, with demonstrators on both sides.

One person supporting SOGI was arrested after allegedly assaulting an anti-SOGI protester along Wallace St.

Other flare-ups saw small numbers of SOGI supporters or protesters verbally engage the other side in close quarters, face to face.

Bakewell, an elementary school teacher, said there were some “pretty graphic and dangerous misunderstandings” around SOGI.

“What’s happening is we are teaching children that it’s safe to be themselves and it doesn’t matter what kind of family they come from. When it comes to sexual orientation and when it comes to the acts of sex, those are not part of the SOGI curriculum, that’s sexual health, that’s part of the B.C. curriculum, that’s something that’s taught in health.”

Signs from SOGI protesters largely centered around parent’s rights, and letting kids be kids. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

At an open mic set up by SOGI protesters, several spoke on what they said were their own experiences and understandings around the subject matter.

One woman who said she was “a concerned mom” advocated home schooling to avoid SOGI lessons in public school.

Another woman and a high school-aged girl said their views were contained in a sign saying “let kids be kids”

“It is all said in this sign, this sign right here,” the older woman said. “This is what this child [the high-school aged girl standing next to her] wants and my grandchildren want the same and my children want the same and we are fighting for the freedom of our children.”

Another woman made an unsubstantiated claim the “trans mob” were being funded by unions and were “getting ready for war”.

SOGI protesters were participating in the so-called “1 Million March 4 Children” with similar rallies held across the country.

Signs and chants from the group centred around parent’s rights to dictate what their children are taught in school.

Both groups largely kept a distance, however several smaller and more intimate flare ups occurred with protesters speaking up close and personal with those from the opposing view. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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