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By Jesse Gill

‘Protect our kids’: Parental rights march planned for Medicine Hat

Sep 19, 2024 | 3:04 PM

A Canada-wide protest will take place Friday — including in Medicine Hat — with a march called the Hands Off Our Kids to Protect Parental Rights taking place.

Gayle Dillman, a local organizer, said they will begin at Athletic Park at noon on Friday.

“And then we’re going to walk down to City Hall. And then there’s going to be some speakers. And anybody that wants to have a word or have something to say, they are more than welcome to have their say. We invite that.”

The march is expected to go until 2 p.m.

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The Hands Off Our Kids movement says it aims to safeguard children from gender ideology teachings, sexual indoctrination, exposure to explicit sexual content and ensuring parental consent remains paramount.

Gayle Dillman will be a part of the Hands Off Our Kids march from Athletic Park to City Hall in Medicine Hat on Friday. Kevin Kyle/CHAT News

Dillman said she is concerned with what is happening in schools where parents aren’t being informed.

“We don’t want to really look at it as a protest, more as raising awareness of what’s going on with our children and what-not in the schools,” Dillman said.

“We’re here to get people together under one flag, one nation, everybody to unify under one God and work together and protect our kids from any harm that could come to them,” she added

“Let Canadian parents be Canadian parents and parent our own children.”

Kim Large is the mother of a transgender child. Jesse Gill/CHAT News

Kim Large, a director with the Prairie Pride Guild of Medicine Hat and District, has a transgender child.

She said the schools are allowing these kids to be themselves, which is not hurting anyone.

Large says those who are trans and non binary represent one in every 270 people in Alberta and feels they are a marginalized community that is being harassed.

“That is a very, very small number, so what they’re saying is happening is just not happening,” Large said.

“All kids deserve the right to be respected and have a safe learning environment, all kids deserve to be at school and all kids deserve to be who they are,” she added.

“Your discomfort of something doesn’t give you the right to take away human rights.”

Large said these kids are being allowed to be themselves.

“Allowing them to use pronouns that they want to use, allowing them to use chosen names for themselves,” Large said.

“By allowing others to do that, it’s not hurting anyone.”

The Prairie Pride Guild will be hosting a solidarity event at the Medicine Hat Public Library from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday to provide those in need with support.

Registered psychologists will be onsite.