An administrator for a group that speaks out against hate speech targeting trans and queer people says she is “angry and hurt” that a particular local group was allowed to participate in Abbotsford’s Canada Day parade.
Lydia Luna, a trans woman with No Space for Hate Abbotsford, said she felt “fear and dismay” when she learned that the group Diversified Families United Society (DFUS) was going to participate in the parade.
DFUS does not have a website, but various online posts indicate that the group involves many of the same people who have been involved with anti-SOGI protests across the city.
Photos from an event in February show participants wearing T-shirts with the words "Diverse Families United" and "Stop SOGI 123" on them.
SOGI 123 is an educational resource approved by the Ministry of Education that addresses sexual orientation and gender identity in the classrooms.
The SOGI website says the resource “helps schools create safe, caring and inclusive learning environments for all students regardless of their race, culture, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.”
Protesters have said they are speaking out about “indoctrination and sexualization” in schools. They have carried signs with messages such as “Let children enjoy their childhood” and “Don’t mess with children’s brains.”
DFUS did not carry signs or spout these messages during the parade, but Luna said they should not have been allowed to participate.
“The people in this group are quite open about their feelings regarding the 2SLGBTQIA+ community,” she said.
“I believe they should not have been allowed into the parade due to entering under false pretenses and misrepresenting themselves. Whatever title they operate under, I believe their goal is to infringe upon the rights and freedoms of people who identify outside of cis-heteronormativity.”
Luna said it is a common belief among people in anti-SOGI groups that “trans people don’t exist, they are mentally ill or are groomed by queer predators or confused by teacher in school into believing that something is wrong with them.”
“I would say that any assertion by their group members and affiliated individuals stating that they aren’t spreading hate is either lying or has been misled.”
Luna said the City of Abbotsford has been on record as being an ally of 2SLGBTQIA+ citizens, and Tourism Abbotsford – which organized the parade – has two Pride flags in its windows in support of them.
She said they need to “do better” in vetting who is allowed in the parade.
City spokesperson Aletta Vanderheyden said participation in the Canada Day parade is open to anyone as long as they agree to the rules and regulations.
These rules indicate that groups must decorate in the theme of Canada Day “with a focus on incorporating multiculturalism, diversity, accessibility, inclusiveness and sustainability.”
Entry will be refused to any floats or vehicles that are “unsuitably decorated,” and all participants must follow municipal, provincial and federal laws and/or bylaws.
“Any submissions that contain messages of hate or discrimination are not permitted,” Vanderheyden said.
“… There were more than 80 entries this year and none of them were observed to be in contradiction of the theme or rules.”
Luna said she hopes that in future DFUS – and groups like them – are no longer given a “publicly endorsed platform to spread their hate and fear.”
The Abbotsford News has reached out to DFUS leader Manni Sandhu for comment, but has not yet heard back.
However, a letter by Sandhu was published in the weekly newspaper The Patrika last fall in which he stated that Sikh, Muslim and Christian families are being “bullied” because they don’t agree that children should be taught that gender is fluid.
“Schools are not places for sexualizing our kids,” he wrote. “Nor should schools be counselling centres confusing our children whether they might be a boy or a girl.”
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