Pride Month in Canada Kicks Off with School Walk-Outs, ‘Pray-Ins,’ and Rainbow Flags Flying High

June 3, 2024 TruthUSA

Many schools across Canada started flying the Pride flag on June 3 and hosting events for Pride Month, which is celebrated in June. Some parents chose to keep their children home on June 3 in protest.

According to Josie Luetke of Campaign Life Coalition (CLC), the flag isn’t just about “inclusion” as some portray it, it represents a controversial ideology that clashes with Christian beliefs about the creation of man and woman. This ideology introduces the concept of a gender spectrum and encourages children to explore their sexuality and gender at a young age. Ms. Luetke mentioned that many Muslim families also opted to keep their children home last year during the walk-out.

“At the very least, the pride flag can be confusing for many students,” she remarked. She emphasized that Catholic schools, in particular, should refrain from organizing Pride events or displaying Pride flags, despite the fact that many do.

Ms. Luetke participated in a CLC-organized “pray-in” at the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) headquarters on June 3, along with similar events held across Ontario in conjunction with nationwide school walk-outs.

At TCDSB’s Pride Month “launch,” livestreamed on May 31, Dr. Andrew B. Campbell (also known as “Dr. ABC”) defended the celebration of Pride in Catholic schools.

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“It’s crucial to ensure that everyone within our Catholic schools feels welcomed, loved, and cared for,” stated Mr. Campbell, an assistant professor of education at the University of Toronto. He defended the symbolism of the Pride flag, indicating that it represents love and inclusion, contrasting it with hatred and making people feel unsafe.

A "pray-in" organized by Campaign Life Coalition takes place at the Archdiocese of Toronto on June 3, 2024. (Courtesy of Campaign Life Coalition) — A “pray-in” organized by Campaign Life Coalition takes place at the Archdiocese of Toronto on June 3, 2024. (Courtesy of Campaign Life Coalition)

In 2019, TCDSB initially voted to incorporate “gender identity” protections in its code of conduct, prompting disapproval from the Archdiocese of Toronto.

“We do not align with the human perspective underlying this terminology, as it contradicts our faith,” the Archdiocese stated. In an interview last year with Argentine newspaper La Nación, Pope Francis labeled “gender ideology” as “dangerous.”

CLC also led a pray-in at the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Various parental rights groups across Canada encouraged parents to keep their children home on June 3. EMPOWR (Educating Minds; Parents of Waterloo Region) in Ontario flagged Pride Month activities suggested to teachers by the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario.

One of the recommendations included teachers reading books aloud about gender and sexuality, such as “10,000 Dresses” by Marcus Ewert, narrating the story of a boy identifying as a girl who dreams of wearing extravagant dresses.

Ms. Luetke estimated around 100 participants province-wide for the pray-ins, with the actual number of participants in the walk-outs becoming clearer as school absence rates are reported in the upcoming months.

Notably, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board witnessed a significant decline in attendance on June 1 last year during the national walk-out. Board spokesperson Darcy Knoll noted that some schools saw up to 60 percent absenteeism, with some attributing the absences to Pride events and others to other factors like wanting an extended weekend ahead of a PA day on June 2.

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