“last week on september 20, 2023, a protest called “the 1 million march for children” took place across canada and one of these protests were organized and took place at lethbridge city hall; their objective is to pressure school districts and local governments to create restrictive and harmful policies that denies affirming and inclusive spaces for queer youth to flourish. while this group called this a peaceful protest, many organizers encouraged the 2slgbtqia+ community and our allies to not counter-protest or it will be perceived as a threat.

watching our community and supportive allies show up to counter protest this transphobic and homophobic protest despite intimidation and threats was powerful. while its discouraging to watch our community be met with this kind of hate and misunderstanding, it was incredible to see our resilient community unite in this moment to show our love and support for queer and trans youth across canada.

queer youth are 5 times more likely to consider suicide and 7 times more likely to attempt suicide (suicide prevention resource centre [sprc], 2008), but when we create spaces that welcomes and celebrates everyone – and not just queer youth, but when we make a space that welcomes everyone and honors the things that make each person unique and different, it truly saves lives.

pride has never just been a celebration for our community, while we honour and celebrate our history, we also look to the future and know that there will come a time that our country and world will not be this divided. we’ll continue to march on.”

— lethbridge pride fest