A little girl in a rainbow-patterned dress skipped through the crowd outside the Windsor Pavilion Thursday night as more than 200 people chanted, B次元官网网址淪OGI saves livesB次元官网网址� at the group gathered inside.

There might have been picnics, dance music, glitter, face paint and bubbles blowing through the wind, but the crowd wasnB次元官网网址檛 there to celebrate B次元官网网址� they were there to protest the The Erosion of Freedom event, hosted by anti-SOGI speaker Jenn Smith, who speaks against the SOGI 123 (sexual orientation and gender identity) resources taught in B.C. schools. Victoria was the eventB次元官网网址檚 final Vancouver Island stop after hosting in Campbell River, Duncan and Nanaimo.

But since it was announced, the event had been a source of controversy in the community B次元官网网址� both towards organizers and the District of Oak Bay, which received backlash for allowing it to go ahead in one its community spaces.

Protest movements cropped up online to counter the eveningB次元官网网址檚 program, including a protest created by Greater Victoria School District trustee Ryan Painter that drew hundreds to the Windsor Pavilion.

B次元官网网址淲hat was coming here to Victoria was something that was not safe, and it was creating a lot of fear,B次元官网网址� Painter said. B次元官网网址淎nd I wanted to create a space of love, a space of inclusion and a space of hope, which is what weB次元官网网址檝e done here tonight.B次元官网网址�

Alex Farquhar, Ashley Moledzki and her wife Natalie sat in camp chairs, holding signs that said, B次元官网网址淭rans rights are human rightsB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淪OGI is the water that helps people bloom.B次元官网网址�

The trio had come out from Langford to protest the event.

B次元官网网址淪OGI was something we all needed earlier in life,B次元官网网址� said Farquhar. B次元官网网址淗onestly if IB次元官网网址檇 had SOGI 123 I probably wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have tried to commit suicide.

[Kids] should never have to feel the way we did. If we can make it better for them, then damn right we should.B次元官网网址�

READ ALSO:

READ ALSO:

Still, the Pavilion was heavy with undercurrents of frustration and anger which eventually bubbled over in the form of tearful and often heated confrontations between event attendees and protesters.

And while the Erosion of Freedom talk went ahead inside a small, hot, upstairs room inside the Windsor Pavilion, the speakers could hardly be heard over the chants, songs and whistles of the protesters filling the room and the field below.

B次元官网网址淧eople like her are the reason my best friend is dead,B次元官网网址� shouted one woman, gesturing to Jenn Smith, holding a microphone at the front of the room.

Attendees and organizers railed back at protesters, claiming their right to freedom of speech was under attack.

Attendee Dave Moores said he came B次元官网网址渋n support of free speechB次元官网网址� but that it was too loud to hear anything.

B次元官网网址淭here was cowbells, fire alarms, a lot of shouting, there was a lot of noiseB次元官网网址� in an attempt to silence the speaker and not have civil dialogue,B次元官网网址� he said.

Moores said he had come to the event for educational reasons.

B次元官网网址淚 wanted to see what was being spoken about, I wanted to see what the topic of discussion was. I kind of had a summary of what was going to be spoken about, but I didnB次元官网网址檛 know exactly,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that he was not surprised by the protest presence at the venue.

Protestors are sitting in on the event with signs and songs

B次元官网网址� Nina Grossman (@NinaGrossman)

Inside the building, tensions continued to escalate until a fire alarm was pulled. Once the Oak Bay Police and the Oak Bay Fire Department arrived, the building was evacuated and the event was officially over.

For his part, Painter felt the evening was a successful show of support for SOGI 123 and the LGBTQ+ community.

B次元官网网址淭here were so many people here tonight,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t shows that the South Island, weB次元官网网址檙e not about hate. WeB次元官网网址檙e all about love.B次元官网网址�

READ ALSO:

nina.grossman@blackpress.ca
Like us on and follow us on