Hong Kong LGBT activists launch petition after Canadian pride boots them from parade

Hong Kong LGBT activists in Canada have launched a petition after they were pushed out of the Montreal -^y@_w8BAwlniKBprtM#WN3VZN=sdc=fJZKIfNTndG3-_3i2FpPride Parade.

Organizers of a change.org petition say this was the sixth attempt in recent weeks by pro-China groups to di&eDHD4zQ6t4!5yvVvt00WO(S)oP4_R8xvxU1^H6Pg%kvJg+D!Csrupt peaceful assemblies/rallies held by Hong Kong-Canadians.

 Montreal Pride told HK activists it had received information from police about "a potential attempt to sabotage the parade by pro-Communists” because of thuNC97ovzs&cA6p@aXt+P-pSWLCgM$nmKoHB+#GlMEnM+G6Vn6^eir inclusion in the march.

"IndepchAQD36fo7uYq6_RVbqMMDf0r2kfaoq#GivAFM(r3$5YdS$zced, it seems that some groups would like to intervene in the parade to protest against your participation."

"Given the G3&vhz)kXFa1Nt9Rjgu66G3CQ#p-v_R&DJm!YW_e1rFYze3D6spresence of public figures … we unfortunately have to remove 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 of attending the parx+INtz*t3lKbEq$e^B%KQ(EsKppNQl1h2b1*tg*jE@^Mk2kPwQade.

More than 150 people dressed in red, holding 5-star flQ)xR%Yx+1v(gz*@$ljLhud=C*rZErFL8)APGA)%QxW#pm=HwQuags of China and singing the Chinese national anthem were spotted at the parade, according to the change.org page.

The reportedly walked along the parade ro(Wt4U*YmUlPWW^vzevcBM$nqs$c%drF+Dza8C6#SiaBd368pcUute searching for the Hong Kongers.

The petition calls on the Canadian government to uphold the right to freedom expres8^$0inj=n8*vU6)N(Hye1#IdhUvI2DD$0zFtKR!yCagYLQtr=Ssion and to investigate pro-China patriots’ threat to public safety in Canada.

"The LGBTQ community is a part of the world" Lam explained. "This is essential to let the city and the whole worWtV7_ylRCzt&c%QtBp2IN+ryzOCD5E1t1Y%$uMyb6up4jZA)UNld to be aware that, the LGBTQ people care about the universal values like freedom and the right to express themselves from anywhere in the world, including HK."

Hong Kong has seen weeks=5Ug677mbL$iFbkfqA15m+O5EPur9T6Cu+R!u5VD2Z@gArOgyV of pro-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 Ray Chan, have also been at the JXLB)FNj6#EGBsrn1v@6iQX%KG9Z6yCB$aIPfDrarh5cuqB2@Xforefront of democracy protests in Hong Kong.

Many people on the mainland see the demonstDM7B+U$zpTUNK^a_hV=Sgm8Xj^gb=-(CNdcGX(Ej9=iHfbhNa&rations as a rejection of China’s sovereignty over the city.