The phrase drew renewed criticism after similar chants at past Pride events were defended by some activists as provocative satire.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A viral video from Sunday’s Pride march in Toronto showed at least one attendee chanting “we’re coming for your children,” renewing criticism over language that has appeared at some LGBTQ events in recent years.
The clip, shared widely on social media, showed the chant during Toronto’s Pride festivities. Commentators noted that the phrase appeared to come from one attendee or a small number of people within a much larger march.
The same phrase has drawn controversy before. In 2023, a New York drag march featured participants chanting, “We’re here, we’re queer, we’re coming for your children,” according to NBC News.
Brian Griffin, an organizer of the New York march, defended the chant after backlash. NBC reported that longtime march attendees and gay rights activists said the phrase had been used for years at Pride events as one of several provocative expressions intended to reclaim slurs and criticism directed at LGBTQ people.
Some past chants have gone further, according to NBC. The outlet reported that Drag March regulars said the “coming for your children” variation had been used previously. NBC also cited Gothamist reporting from the prior year that marchers chanted, “Ten percent is not enough: Groom! Groom! Groom!”
Activists have described the chants as satire, but the language has drawn criticism from parents and conservative commentators, particularly amid broader debates over drag queen story events, sex education policies and LGBTQ-related curriculum in public schools.
The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus also faced backlash in 2021 after releasing a music video with lyrics that included, “We’ll convert your children, happens bit by bit, quietly and subtly and you will barely notice it … We’re coming for them. We’re coming for your children. The gay agenda is coming home. The gay agenda is here.”
The Toronto video circulated as parental rights issues remained a focus in Canada. Coverage by Juno News appeared to contribute to Newfoundland officials reversing a policy that would have restricted parents from accessing their children’s medical records beginning at age 12 without the child’s consent.
The policy, rolled out in a June 19 email, would have required children ages 12 to 15 to consent before parents could access certain medical records. Newfoundland’s premier later cited backlash from parents when backing away from the policy.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also attended Toronto’s Pride events Sunday. Social media posts showed Carney greeting attendees, including one person wearing a leather puppy mask and harness.
The appearance drew criticism from opponents who said public officials should be more cautious about participating in events where sexualized imagery or fetish-related displays are visible in public settings.
Glen McGregor of CityNews described Pride attendance as “the easiest layup in Canadian politics” and a “no-brainer” while criticizing Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre for not attending LGBTQ events during June.
The Toronto video has added to an ongoing political and cultural debate over Pride events, public displays, satire, parental rights and the role of politicians in participating in LGBTQ celebrations.
Supporters of Pride events argue they remain important expressions of visibility and civil rights. Critics argue that chants involving children and public sexualized imagery undermine public trust and fuel parental concerns.
Original article
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