Nanaimo’s LGBTQ community and allies louder than SOGI misinformation

BY GREG SAKAKI

Members of Nanaimo’s LGBTQ community and allies needed to show up again so that misinformation about sexual orientation and gender identity couldn’t be spoken unchecked.

Another anti-SOGI education march and rally was held in Nanaimo on Saturday, Oct. 21, starting at city hall and continuing at Maffeo Sutton Park.

Again, the number of members of the LGBTQ community and allies far outnumbered the anti-SOGI group at both locations. There was some pushing and shoving at both city hall and at the park, and an individual carrying a rainbow ‘no place for hate’ sign punched a woman on the anti-SOGI side of the street, knocking her to the ground. Police made an arrest and the suspect is facing an assault charge.

Reserve Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson, said police characterized the protest and counter-protest as relatively non-violent, with no other police involvement required.

At the park, counter-protesters cranked up feel-good music and blared vuvuzelas to try to drown out the anti-SOGI group’s open-mic remarks, which included misinformation about SOGI education as well as hatred directed at members of the LGBTQ community and their allies.

Counter-protesters blare 'Let It Go' to drown out a speaker at a rally opposing SOGI education Saturday, Oct. 21, at Nanaimo's Maffeo Sutton Park… #Nanaimo pic.twitter.com/wX7omZ2efo

— Nanaimo Bulletin (@NanaimoBulletin) October 22, 2023

Two organizers of the counter-protest told the News Bulletin that the anti-SOGI education protesters were hurting a very vulnerable community. Counter-protesters talked about how they could have used SOGI education when they were youths, so they could have had safe spaces at school where they could be authentically themselves.

Organizers of the counter-protest said a lot of LGBTQ allies come to the Pride parade and festival because it’s fun, but they also need to show up and stand up for LGBTQ rights in these sort of situations.

The anti-SOGI education march was called the Million March for Children and a press release for the event lamented the “sexualization of children;” however, SOGI 123 learning resources, according to the B.C. government, are age-appropriate and intended to ensure schools are inclusive and safe spaces for students of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Nanaimo city council issued a statement earlier this week in response to the anti-SOGI protests, saying the city stands in solidarity with members of the LGBTQ community and condemns all hate and violence they face.

“Every person deserves to feel empowered to express their true self, but we recognize that many individuals within the 2SLGBTQIA-plus community have been faced with hatred, ignorance and bigotry,” the statement noted. “Today, we wish to make it clear that this is not OK. Diversity is the heartbeat of our city, and hate has no place here.”

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