Progressive and LGBTQ-plus groups demand apology from organizers of Lunar New Year parade

CHILLIWACK — Two progressive and LGBTQ-plus groups that had been rejected from taking part in Sunday’s Vancouver Chinatown Lunar New Year parade say they want a public apology from the organizers.

In a joint letter, Chinatown Together and Lunar New Year For All say they have experienced public humiliation, character assassination and harmful stigmatization.

Organizing committee spokesman Frank Huang said Friday that letters have been sent to them, approving their participation, but he did not give any reasons for the reversal.

In previous letters and statements, the committee had told Chinatown Together that it couldn’t march because of a ban on “political activism,” while it rejected another group it didn’t identify because of “the potential for disruption and protests.”