About 250 folks turned out for 2 opposing rallies in downtown Calgary on Saturday.
The 2 teams of protesters had been separated by MacLeod Path – on one facet had been involved about transgender people in locker rooms and kids being uncovered to tug exhibits.
“I am right here to guard the rights of youngsters to be protected,” protester Judy Body mentioned. “Girls and kids have to be protected and everybody has rights.”
There have been current protests exterior Canyon Meadows Pool primarily based on allegations of indecent publicity in a locker room, however Calgary police say the incident didn’t happen as reported on social media and there was no act of indecent publicity.
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Supporters of transgender rights say transgender ladies have absolutely the proper to make use of the ladies’s locker room.
“If you wish to management what your youngsters see, superb, that is your reality, however simply take your self to a different space. Do not attempt to make different folks undergo your lifestyle. In the event you do not wish to see somebody bare, you possibly can change it your self. You’ll be able to’t let the remainder of the world do it for you,” mentioned Arifah Abkey, who was on the counter-protest on Saturday.
“It isn’t your proper to inform somebody how one can reside their life simply because it’s totally different from yours. Who’re you to dictate that?”
The Calgary Public Library has postponed a drag storytime occasion that was imagined to be held on the Southwood department on Saturday within the curiosity of making certain security.
The library says what occurred inside Seton Library final weekend was not a protest.
“This was an organized, focused and intimidating disruption of a program in an area the place babies had been current,” the CPL mentioned in a press release.
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The library has partnered with Calgary Satisfaction to host Studying with Royalty occasions for over 5 years.
“This program is a well-liked, family-friendly occasion that celebrates inclusion and creativeness via tales and songs. All performers and employees full coaching to make sure occasions are child-friendly and entertaining. The suggestion that it’s anything is categorically false and rooted in misinformation and intolerance,” CPL mentioned.
The choice to postpone the Studying with Royalty occasion comes as Calgary police have charged an area pastor in reference to the incident on the Seton Library.
Officers responded to reviews of a number of folks aggressively coming into a library classroom and yelling homophobic and transphobic slurs on the youngsters and fogeys current.
Some folks at Saturday’s protest say drag occasions and kids should not combine.
“The drag queens of all ages simply depart the youngsters till they’re 18 and do not expose them to something,” mentioned Paul Marsh.
“They’ll study their very own sexuality when they’re 18 or 20. Simply depart them alone to allow them to uncover it for themselves,” he mentioned.
Supporters of Studying with Royalty say it is all about exposing youngsters to studying and to totally different folks.
“In lots of instances we had been requested to return and skim a narrative, or do a little bit of singing and dancing. It has nothing to do with an agenda. It is all about exhibiting children a various, enjoyable time and inspiring them to be uncovered to people who find themselves totally different from them and be okay with that,” mentioned Seth Kay.
Police say no expenses had been filed at Saturday’s occasion at Metropolis Corridor.
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