Horns honking, speeches projected over loudspeakers and chants of sa国际传媒淐anada has one flag,sa国际传媒� could be heard across downtown Kelowna, as hundreds of people gathered for the 1 Million March 4 Children event on September 20.

Approximately 500 people stood in support of the event and cheered for speeches that called for the abolition of gender-affirming care, including the use of preferred pronouns, gender-diverse education and sex education in public schools.

Adults could be seen holding signs that read sa国际传媒淣o to SOGI, no to gender ideology,sa国际传媒� while children in the crowd of demonstrators held signs saying sa国际传媒淒onsa国际传媒檛 impose your beliefs on us.sa国际传媒�

Approximately six years ago in B.C., an educational resource called Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) was implemented to be used by teachers, families and students with the goal of improving understanding and inclusion for all people in addition to educating people on 2SLGBTQIA+ identities and the issues the queer community faces.

Gender and sexual identity-inclusive education is not a formal class, but rather a resource designed to help educators, parents and students feel more comfortable with their own, and othersa国际传媒檚 unique identity.

All people, including heterosexual and cis-gendered folks, have a sexual orientation and gender identity and use pronouns like he, she and they.

Heather Lucier, a local pastor and organizer of the march in Kelowna, explained that the event is being held in congruence with the 1 Million March for Children that is taking place in Ottawa and across the country.

Lucier said that the march is not about SOGI education and is instead about sa国际传媒減arents maintaining and having a right to decide what their children are taught in school.sa国际传媒�

Advocates from the Kelowna Pride Society and Advocacy Canada chose not to organize a formal counter-protest due to safety concerns and instead will be hosting a gender-affirming and inclusive event in October.

There was, however, a group of rainbow-adorned folks who attended the event to share messages highlighting the importance of queer visibility and inclusion.

The co-chair of the Kelowna Pride Society Claire House, said that the atmosphere at the event was tense and that they experienced abuse directed at the queer community who were in attendance in opposition to the march.

House explained that SOGI education and teaching youth about all types of people helps to prevent bullying and create safe spaces for all people.

sa国际传媒淭hey say they want to protect kids, we want to protect kids as well,sa国际传媒� said House.

They explained that sa国际传媒渕isinformationsa国际传媒� about the alleged sa国际传媒渟exualization (sic) indoctrination, and so-called harm to children,sa国际传媒� being shared at the march is not true.

sa国际传媒淭he number one thing that people who are interested can do is go out there and educate themselvessa国际传媒� This is about creating environments in which bullying is tackled, children are safe, included and in which every child can fully accept and be themselves.sa国际传媒�

Many Queer advocates across Kelowna spoke out against the anti-SOGI march and called on public officials to denounce the sa国际传媒渉ateful and harmfulsa国际传媒� messaging being promoted by the March for Children event organizers.

City councillor Loyal Wooldridge has been an outspoken advocate for the queer community throughout his career.

sa国际传媒淭he movement against the transgender community has been growing to intentionally dehumanize people. Events that target marginalized members of our community are harmful,sa国际传媒� said Wooldridge.

In response to the demonstrations the Central Okanagan Board of Education also reiterated its commitment to safe and inclusive places to learn.

B.C.sa国际传媒檚 human rights commissioner Kasari Govender also spoke out saying the human rights of trans and LGBTQ2SAI+ people are not up for debate, full stop.

Premier David Eby even put forward a statement.

sa国际传媒淲ithout hesitation, I denounce threats, hate and violence against 2SLGBTQIA+ communities,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淲e are seeing a concerning rise in incidents where trans people are being targeted with threats and violence in person and online.sa国际传媒�

READ MORE: Gender-affirming care for youth is lifesaving, say B.C. experts

READ MORE: Queer advocates speak out against anti-gender education march in Kelowna