WESTMINSTER, Calif. — Community members have voted to include gay and lesbian residents in Orange County’s Vietnamese new year’s parade.
The 51-36 vote on Saturday comes a year after lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people were barred from the Tet parade in Westminster.
The Partnership of Viet Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Organizations marched in past parades when they were city-run, but were barred after a community federation took over in 2013.
The federation said they feared the LGBT group would drive out other participants.
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Last month, the Westminster City Council criticized the exclusionary policy and urged the groups to find a compromise. The council denied a request by the LGBT groups to withhold granting a permit for the parade.
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The Tet parade has been held in Westminster for two decades and gay and lesbian groups were allowed in it when it was controlled by the city, but when the private group took over last year, they were told they could not participate, and were denied by a court when they sued for inclusion.
The Lunar New Year event is scheduled for Feb. 1.
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