Muslims across Canada staged protests over schools teaching gender identity and believed that the current political climate was dangerous for young people from Muslim backgrounds.
Last week, the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) — which says it represents 55,000 people in B.C., Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec — posted a statement online calling for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, school boards, and unions and asked to apologize for ‘characterizing the peaceful protests of thousands of concerned parents as hateful.
On September 20th, thousands of Muslims, joined by other faith-based groups, protested to raise their concerns, calling for their rights as parents in relation to their children’s education. They protested over the previous statements from Canadian leaders and school boards as such statements increase the potential for Muslim children to face increased bullying and harassment in schools, both by educators and peers.
The statement garnered hundreds of responses on social media platforms. It also has the support of Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre and was shared by Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe.
MAC, on the other hand, said, “It wants schools to acknowledge religious rights and believes mandated celebration or affirmation of LGBTQ, including direct or indirect impositions to participate in ‘Pride’ events and activities, constitutes an infringement on the legal rights of Muslims.”
MAC declined a CBC interview request, saying they “will not be making any more comments at this time.” In response to a question on Thursday about whether he would retract his statement based on MAC’s calls, Trudeau said he will always stand against intolerance when it exists. He also noted, “I never suggested that someone who is concerned about parental rights is somehow filled with hate and intolerance.”
While MAC warned that Muslim children are at risk of bullying due to their parents’ opposition to LGBTQ education, several queer Muslims and allies warn that by advocating for students to be able to opt out of an LGBTQ curriculum, Muslim support of the “parental rights” movement is harming queer Muslims, because it ignores their existence.
Read more: Sikh group protests outside Golden Temple over killing in Canada
Curriculums on sexual orientation and gender identity vary by province, but by and large, they are informed by research showing LGBTQ people students experience higher rates of homelessness and suicide. In the wake of the protests, multiple school boards issued statements supporting LGBTQ students.
“In our schools, we do not tell students who they should be, but welcome them as they are,” read a Sept. 19 statement from the Toronto District School Board. “We do this by focusing on their academic learning and fostering feelings of belonging as expected in the Ontario curriculum and the Ontario Human Rights Code.” Discussions around gender identity and LGBTQ acceptance in schools have been stirring for years.
