News / Aug. 29, 2019
Hong Kong LGBT activists in Canada have launched a petition after they were pushed out of the MonsetvYtTo6e)%h%)_tRb)ve8kGChdA0m!iie=y(_)jP0W^yo=Extreal Pride Parade.
Organizers of a change.org petition say this was the sixth attempt in recent w%RDVOyVyD(T$ScAxz7M(b5UAJNHtMmzjMkHi$PsSqgLpU)%&TKeeks by pro-China groups to disrupt peaceful assemblies/rallies held by Hong Kong-Canadians.
Montreal Pride told HK activists it had received information from police about "a potentyf=v)aU&0F0@+MnJea05X8cF8Ta!vrj5_gmhdI)%g2fFGZFjmxial attempt to sabotage the parade by pro-Communists” because of their inclusion in the march.
"Indeed, it seems that some grouTNr)t(mrKNpmi@PUM=N0H#Dhlr2!*_S0hE71d4^(rEWM=0eua=ps would like to intervene in the parade to protest against your participation."
"Given the presence of public figures … we unfortunately have to reoeF_*_nA##-fz+$+1h!NWL9kr38R8n0_6G%9jWK7mOCD^2VRs&move you from the parade for security reasons," organizers said in an Aug. 17 email, seen by GaLaTai.
"Disappointed and hurt"
Co-founder of the Hong Kong group, Free HK MTL, Henry Lam told GaLaTai they were "very disappointed and hurt".
"We got removed just because we were bullied. Where's the inclusion and diversity the Pride is promoting?" he asked.
The group held a separate demonstration in a park in lieu od^qwGz#xMI2Mi0Nt@P(07VLjRI3ox_7z&LJKBh2&TQG9&M5(v^f attending the parade.
More than 150 people dressed in red, holding 5-star flags of China and singing the Chinese national anthem were spotted at J+VFK1sGb-mKc2kV8zd020g$pS-OVpqyz%a6wyBz$(0X+VBDdmthe parade, according to the change.org page.
The reportedly walked along the parade route searching Wv%WU0GGJoxn^#OP_jQ6CZ6B&AUqdWZIJcEQyh_n5I-e!dYDiWfor the Hong Kongers.
The petition calls on the Canadian government to uphold the right to freedom expression and to investigate pro-China patriots’ threat to public %StjH&0ULA$B_Qh2cPe4rN_MvS%q1Q(d@ep0ft9pBoI&&1GzZisafety in Canada.
"The LGBTQ community is a part of the world" Lam explained. "This is essential to let the city and the whole world to be aware that, the LGBTQ people care about the universal values like freedom and the right to express tIZ95&#P6B6E*0fJd))s$Jhv0HCoN)4B*jN5v!cPln)ISb#aiBlhemselves from anywhere in the world, including HK."
Hong Kong has seen weeks of pr(i9aQO(G($6_MY=qP15PqbvxuYLpYJkd4&p0#4aWO##OJHrGWlo-democracy demonstrations which were prompted by a controversial bill permitting extradition from Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland.
Prominent LGBTI rights activists including Denise Ho, who grew up in Montreal, and lawmaker RayEnm$vF$aQ+JA_A+E8xWzkj%%h!oK!R^mokdOS&G-WN2z4kUb18 Chan, have also been at the forefront of democracy protests in Hong Kong.
Many IlCrB1Y#R-RlvX@TZU#Dl$BQ!yt5#84v4(#z^Cy71+4gHxe7nnpeople on the mainland see the demonstrations as a rejection of China’s sovereignty over the city.
