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came from the parade害羞草研究所檚 organizers, telling her that approval of Chinatown Together害羞草研究所檚 participation had been rescinded because 害羞草研究所減olitical activism finds no place within the spirit of the event.害羞草研究所�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