September 20th, 2023, saw coordinated protests billed as the “1 Million March 4 Kids” take place at various school boards, city halls and other such locations across Canada and a bit of the U.S. They were spurred on by the Hands Off Our Kids organization. HOOK, under the guise of “protecting children” and their “rights,” and couching itself in the language of Liberal inclusiveness, seeks to eliminate what they have referred to as “LGBTQ+ ideology” from schools. This article does not exist to defend any government institution or politician: its purpose – like our presence at the counter-protests – is to defend queer existence and marginalized communities from the creeping tide of hate and opportunistic fascism. We are two Hamilton queers who put ourselves in the midst of the action in Guelph and in Hamilton, at different stages. We, Ripley and E.D., have set out here to provide our on-the-ground perspectives on the protesters, what took place in both cities, as well as on what comes next. Read More …