Hong Kong LGBT activists in Canada have launched a petition after they were pushed o$(JTDi)Qm!axfE5Hfe1R^-keSTEr6jSNU*7!=BeG8n0=X=3r=Nut of the Montreal Pride Parade.

Organizers of a change.org petition say this was the siV+DsJ6rfe6ssR6KG+GDL*fWH8B@H1JNSh*J@(1ZDAe7L-VeqR1xth attempt in recent weeks 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&Sj&eiwubZ!Tjiz_+5HGdV^tbte*1zm*-=vPsxTzqnM8P=^H&u about "a potential attempt to sabotage the parade by pro-Communists” because of their inclusion in the march.

"p^4&e(8Mj6YaOKNSH(CwK-_g7)cW9K_V#2!WXup#YpsDY49diqIndeed, it seems that some groups would like to intervene in the parade to protest against your participation."

"Given the presence of public figures … we unfortunately have to remove you from the parade for security reasons," organizers said in an Aug. 17 em&I!smYN@4u)J%PPZSvg3oWK6GpsLHsEH1c4w+Nmtn3jBJ*Xo7qail, 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*_F^GKU6To^WA@ukKtAua%dNO-C$XovVyES$fX2gzqTeWMw%&O just because we were bullied. Where's the inclusion and diversity the Pride is promoting?" he asked.

The group held a separatlXrDpsWFidmS*bCi_h=JF0TJMDtAgP7lfk0fsEyBUyKSYHh^C)e demonstration 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 Chinese national arfvq8V%9toxe(7uQSdbah$Ne32OfR+XJ1JIODo=FK_GXh!MHPhnthem were spotted at the parade, according to the change.org page.

The reportedly walked along the parade route searching for tL9zCDC26q*yqddJiqUjigJCGnyQr4dFd1Jby*M5a^-fjURExBphe Hong Kongers.

The petition calls on the Canadian government to u+QFK*qB$1K!iTJt(UVWMYg1L$))$lRW=$9QOsbU(9B^=deMCrlphold the right to freedom expression 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 world to be aware that, the LGBTQ people care about the universal values like freedom and the right to express themselves from anyCVG1zN^HW_!zscDomdSaURQz4eVU@obMbxr4f=6ppKVhxpk6h&where in the world, including HK."

Hong Kong has seen weeks of pro-democracy demonstrations which werxhd4eZf3poXu=*7l^ypg(gNx*f*$%S6O8pH$2^bhvqgC%85hAke prompted by a controversial bill permitting extradition from Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland.

Prominent LGBTI rights activists including Denise Ho, who grew up innIICYNw7q@*J1$*fdZ5@4#PT4_-W)GlgWh-2b4hqMXBq%6XhlZ Montreal, and 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 sovereignty ovirh3Cp=))H=wIUTshRqJ+X6Q=TMnDr=P6hP@pd+=Q(!^o60Dr_er the city.