Progressive and LGBTQ+ groups say they91裸聊视频檝e been excluded from Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown this weekend, with one of their representatives saying they were told it was because of a ban on 91裸聊视频減olitical activism.91裸聊视频�
Chinatown Together, organized by community activist Melody Ma, and LGBTQ+ group Lunar New Year For All say their applications to march in the Spring Festival Parade on Sunday were rejected by the committee that runs the event.
The parade marks the year of the dragon, which starts on Saturday.
Ma posted a letter on social media that she says came from the parade91裸聊视频檚 organizers, telling her that approval of Chinatown Together91裸聊视频檚 participation had been rescinded because 91裸聊视频減olitical activism finds no place within the spirit of the event.91裸聊视频�
The letter dated Feb. 3 says the parade is 91裸聊视频渄edicated to a sense of unity91裸聊视频� and is intentionally distanced from religious or political affiliations.
But Pearl Wong, co-organizer of Lunar New Year For All, says they don91裸聊视频檛 consider themselves political, and no reason for their exclusion was given in the letter they received.
91裸聊视频淥ur thought process was, hey, it would be really cool if we could form a group that is dedicated for queer and trans folks of Asian descent,91裸聊视频� Wong said.
91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 really understand why it has to be this hard, because I don91裸聊视频檛 think it91裸聊视频檚 very hard to be inclusive and welcoming.91裸聊视频�
Wong, who is from New York, said Manhattan91裸聊视频檚 Chinatown parade had incorporated LGBTQ+ members since 2010.
The Chinatown Spring Festival91裸聊视频檚 organizing committee issued a response late Thursday, saying it is 91裸聊视频渃ommitted to upholding the tradition of promoting community, collaboration and tolerance across cultures.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淲e are also committed to ensuring that the parade is a safe and inclusive event for all participants and spectators,91裸聊视频� it said in a statement.
91裸聊视频淭he committee will make the decision to accept or reject parade team applications based on these criteria.91裸聊视频�
Ma is a vocal critic of gentrification in Chinatown, opposing projects such as a residential tower at 105 Keefer Street, which was approved by Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 permit board last June after years of dispute.
But she said none of the group91裸聊视频檚 banners on Sunday would have mentioned gentrification or 105 Keefer Street, in accordance with parade rules.
91裸聊视频淲e decided to participate in the Lunar New Year parade despite the fact the organizers were pro-Chinatown gentrification, because we wanted to put that all aside,91裸聊视频� Ma said. 91裸聊视频淔or this, the largest celebration of Chinatown, we91裸聊视频檙e going to put all these political differences aside and participate in this together.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淯nfortunately,91裸聊视频� she added, 91裸聊视频渨hat91裸聊视频檚 ironic is that by rejecting and citing political activism 91裸聊视频� whatever that means to them in this case 91裸聊视频� they are inherently politicizing the event and the decision.91裸聊视频�
The parade is organized by a consortium of six organizations 91裸聊视频� the Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver, the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver, the Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association, the Chinese Freemasons Vancouver Branch, the Shon Yee Benevolent Association of Canada and social service agency SUCCESS.
SUCCESS said in a written response that it isn91裸聊视频檛 the lead organizer of the parade and isn91裸聊视频檛 involved with operational decisions.
The letter posted by Ma on social media says the festival91裸聊视频檚 organizing committee had 91裸聊视频渟teadfastly adhered91裸聊视频� to its principles for decades, 91裸聊视频渆nsuring the event remains a beacon of cultural heritage and community cohesion.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淲hile your passion for advocacy has been recognized, it is essential to underscore that political activism finds no place within the spirit of the event,91裸聊视频� it says.
Jordan Eng, president of the Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Association, said the case highlights the complexity of Chinatowns and their social and economic fault lines.
91裸聊视频淐hinatown is like a city in itself,91裸聊视频� with strong opposing views on issues such as gentrification, Eng said.
91裸聊视频淥n 105 Keefer, even within those legacy organizations, that was a really hard decision,91裸聊视频� Eng said, noting many groups changed positions over time to support the project.
91裸聊视频淥ur views don91裸聊视频檛 necessarily align with the legacy organizations, and the last go-around for 105 (Keefer), most of those organizations did not support it as well.91裸聊视频�
Eng91裸聊视频檚 groups supported the project.
He said this year91裸聊视频檚 parade, celebrating both the year of the dragon and the event91裸聊视频檚 50th anniversary, would play a crucial role in the revitalization of the neighbourhood after the pandemic.
91裸聊视频淭his is really a time for us to showcase Chinatown in a very positive light, in a unified light,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e need good news stories. We don91裸聊视频檛 need people trying to bring us down.91裸聊视频�
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