Hong Kong LGBT activists in Canada have laue&&ThVvm016g(DQkyZ9cZ*udA_uGS^0suCzhwlfK+#*H#xw$0mnched a petition after they were pushed out of the Montreal Pride Parade.
Organizers of a change.org petition say this$G64hK%n+rqrC5nlNSwlg#WDUqe^[email protected]#c6I was the sixth attempt in recent weeks by pro-China groups to disrupt peaceful assemblies/rallies held by Hong Kong-Canadians.
Montreal Pride told HK avCrQoEiaqC=Dj+MuuCF-QXSU*=9dv)m_#uYCtmpQsfIr$7qb5bctivists it had received information from police about "a potential attempt to sabotage the parade by pro-Communists” because of their inclusion in the march.
"Indeed, it seems that some groups would like to intervene in the parade to protJ4=r$lESz_gGE=3U%[email protected]#o4vSh3Gh(5+V1vayUest against your participation."
"Given the presence of public figures … we unfortunately have to remove you from the parade for security reasons," organiz2*uRDJK0m0xzHd)oQcDGZOdyoHTD#[email protected]$7V0_BhCH7YMaqyO1ers said in an Aug. 17 email, seen by GaLaTai.
"Disappointed and hurt"
Co-founder of the Hong Kong group, Free HK MTL, Henry Lam told GaLaTai they were "very disappointed and hurt".
"We got removed just because we were bullied. Where's the inclusion and diversity the Pride is promoting?" he asked.
The group held a separate d[email protected])SvatBX7kME9e%[email protected]#3liXoXemonstration in a park in lieu of attending the parade.
More than 150 people dressed in red, holding 5-star flags of China and singing the eclufTVX&*DCKW+Uye%9)Fv-k+6Gqj95QYT!R__HhgzJtu0R8+Chinese national anthem were spotted at the parade, according to the change.org page.
The reportQjC-oE*fea_Y^IALfSe(cD&RVOiy2yzOLAge)CkrI7DM%_grehedly walked along the parade route searching for the Hong Kongers.
The petition calls on the Canadian government to uphold the right to freedom expression and to investigate pro-China patriots’ threat to public safety in Canadtq-c9Yl1D5mpY7yO9Vy1k3jFpAE^#Jf4o7vFTvLaVS%mgUgJ=3a.
"The LGBTQ community is a part of the world" Lam explained. "This is essential to let the city and the whole world to be aware that, the LGBTQ people care about the universal valHah7BJYHXkn*[email protected]^osh7AGg=XQ50m74PDS1(&L4_ues like freedom and the right to express themselves from anywhere in the world, including HK."
Hong Kong has seen weeks of pro-democracy demonstrations which were prompted by a controversial bill permitting extradition from HoRA*Llw=wHlgQwpwNlDp9xFDjGGy*gcy0KvCID^m-4IyylntU7*ng Kong to the Chinese mainland.
Prominent LGBTI rights activists including Denise Ho, who grew up in Montreal, a9M=cbaUJo8$snT4aWG%^i-%&8^fvIhH_8fG8I&Z=UCm-o-SdzKnd lawmaker Ray Chan, have also been at the forefront of democracy protests in Hong Kong.
Many people on the mainland see the demonstrations as a rejection of China’s sover[email protected]##EXx$(64bmUr+KGBD$jHlbFzCpK#@HjSyiNQ+$KnGG6eignty over the city.
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