Progressive and LGBTQ+ groups say they香蕉视频直播檝e been excluded from Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown this weekend, with one of their representatives saying they were told it was because of a ban on 香蕉视频直播減olitical activism.香蕉视频直播�
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came from the parade香蕉视频直播檚 organizers, telling her that approval of Chinatown Together香蕉视频直播檚 participation had been rescinded because 香蕉视频直播減olitical activism finds no place within the spirit of the event.香蕉视频直播�
The letter dated Feb. 3 says the parade is 香蕉视频直播渄edicated to a sense of unity香蕉视频直播� and is intentionally distanced from religious or political affiliations.
But Pearl Wong, co-organizer of Lunar New Year For All, says they don香蕉视频直播檛 consider themselves political, and no reason for their exclusion was given in the letter they received.
香蕉视频直播淥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,香蕉视频直播� Wong said.
香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 really understand why it has to be this hard, because I don香蕉视频直播檛 think it香蕉视频直播檚 very hard to be inclusive and welcoming.香蕉视频直播�
Wong, who is from New York, said Manhattan香蕉视频直播檚 Chinatown parade had incorporated LGBTQ+ members since 2010.
The Chinatown Spring Festival香蕉视频直播檚 organizing committee issued a response late Thursday, saying it is 香蕉视频直播渃ommitted to upholding the tradition of promoting community, collaboration and tolerance across cultures.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淲e are also committed to ensuring that the parade is a safe and inclusive event for all participants and spectators,香蕉视频直播� it said in a statement.
香蕉视频直播淭he committee will make the decision to accept or reject parade team applications based on these criteria.香蕉视频直播�
Ma is a vocal critic of gentrification in Chinatown, opposing projects such as a residential tower at 105 Keefer Street, which was approved by Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 permit board last June after years of dispute.
But she said none of the group香蕉视频直播檚 banners on Sunday would have mentioned gentrification or 105 Keefer Street, in accordance with parade rules.
香蕉视频直播淲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,香蕉视频直播� Ma said. 香蕉视频直播淔or this, the largest celebration of Chinatown, we香蕉视频直播檙e going to put all these political differences aside and participate in this together.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淯nfortunately,香蕉视频直播� she added, 香蕉视频直播渨hat香蕉视频直播檚 ironic is that by rejecting and citing political activism 香蕉视频直播� whatever that means to them in this case 香蕉视频直播� they are inherently politicizing the event and the decision.香蕉视频直播�
The parade is organized by a consortium of six organizations 香蕉视频直播� 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 isn香蕉视频直播檛 the lead organizer of the parade and isn香蕉视频直播檛 involved with operational decisions.
The letter posted by Ma on social media says the festival香蕉视频直播檚 organizing committee had 香蕉视频直播渟teadfastly adhered香蕉视频直播� to its principles for decades, 香蕉视频直播渆nsuring the event remains a beacon of cultural heritage and community cohesion.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淲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,香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淐hinatown is like a city in itself,香蕉视频直播� with strong opposing views on issues such as gentrification, Eng said.
香蕉视频直播淥n 105 Keefer, even within those legacy organizations, that was a really hard decision,香蕉视频直播� Eng said, noting many groups changed positions over time to support the project.
香蕉视频直播淥ur views don香蕉视频直播檛 necessarily align with the legacy organizations, and the last go-around for 105 (Keefer), most of those organizations did not support it as well.香蕉视频直播�
Eng香蕉视频直播檚 groups supported the project.
He said this year香蕉视频直播檚 parade, celebrating both the year of the dragon and the event香蕉视频直播檚 50th anniversary, would play a crucial role in the revitalization of the neighbourhood after the pandemic.
香蕉视频直播淭his is really a time for us to showcase Chinatown in a very positive light, in a unified light,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e need good news stories. We don香蕉视频直播檛 need people trying to bring us down.香蕉视频直播�
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