Progressive and LGBTQ+ groups say theyB次元官网网址檝e been excluded from VancouverB次元官网网址檚 Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown this weekend, with one of their representatives saying they were told it was because of a ban on B次元官网网址減olitical activism.B次元官网网址�

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came from the paradeB次元官网网址檚 organizers, telling her that approval of Chinatown TogetherB次元官网网址檚 participation had been rescinded because B次元官网网址減olitical activism finds no place within the spirit of the event.B次元官网网址�

The letter dated Feb. 3 says the parade is B次元官网网址渄edicated to a sense of unityB次元官网网址� and is intentionally distanced from religious or political affiliations.

But Pearl Wong, co-organizer of Lunar New Year For All, says they donB次元官网网址檛 consider themselves political, and no reason for their exclusion was given in the letter they received.

B次元官网网址淥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,B次元官网网址� Wong said.

B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 really understand why it has to be this hard, because I donB次元官网网址檛 think itB次元官网网址檚 very hard to be inclusive and welcoming.B次元官网网址�

Wong, who is from New York, said ManhattanB次元官网网址檚 Chinatown parade had incorporated LGBTQ+ members since 2010.

The Chinatown Spring FestivalB次元官网网址檚 organizing committee issued a response late Thursday, saying it is B次元官网网址渃ommitted to upholding the tradition of promoting community, collaboration and tolerance across cultures.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e are also committed to ensuring that the parade is a safe and inclusive event for all participants and spectators,B次元官网网址� it said in a statement.

B次元官网网址淭he committee will make the decision to accept or reject parade team applications based on these criteria.B次元官网网址�

Ma is a vocal critic of gentrification in Chinatown, opposing projects such as a residential tower at 105 Keefer Street, which was approved by VancouverB次元官网网址檚 permit board last June after years of dispute.

But she said none of the groupB次元官网网址檚 banners on Sunday would have mentioned gentrification or 105 Keefer Street, in accordance with parade rules.

B次元官网网址淲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,B次元官网网址� Ma said. B次元官网网址淔or this, the largest celebration of Chinatown, weB次元官网网址檙e going to put all these political differences aside and participate in this together.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淯nfortunately,B次元官网网址� she added, B次元官网网址渨hatB次元官网网址檚 ironic is that by rejecting and citing political activism B次元官网网址� whatever that means to them in this case B次元官网网址� they are inherently politicizing the event and the decision.B次元官网网址�

The parade is organized by a consortium of six organizations B次元官网网址� 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 isnB次元官网网址檛 the lead organizer of the parade and isnB次元官网网址檛 involved with operational decisions.

The letter posted by Ma on social media says the festivalB次元官网网址檚 organizing committee had B次元官网网址渟teadfastly adheredB次元官网网址� to its principles for decades, B次元官网网址渆nsuring the event remains a beacon of cultural heritage and community cohesion.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲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,B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淐hinatown is like a city in itself,B次元官网网址� with strong opposing views on issues such as gentrification, Eng said.

B次元官网网址淥n 105 Keefer, even within those legacy organizations, that was a really hard decision,B次元官网网址� Eng said, noting many groups changed positions over time to support the project.

B次元官网网址淥ur views donB次元官网网址檛 necessarily align with the legacy organizations, and the last go-around for 105 (Keefer), most of those organizations did not support it as well.B次元官网网址�

EngB次元官网网址檚 groups supported the project.

He said this yearB次元官网网址檚 parade, celebrating both the year of the dragon and the eventB次元官网网址檚 50th anniversary, would play a crucial role in the revitalization of the neighbourhood after the pandemic.

B次元官网网址淭his is really a time for us to showcase Chinatown in a very positive light, in a unified light,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e need good news stories. We donB次元官网网址檛 need people trying to bring us down.B次元官网网址�

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