WESTMINSTER – "Chuc Mung Nam Moi!"

The Vietnamese Lunar New Year greeting was a common refrain in Little Saigon as lion dancers, martial artists, local politicians and other community groups marched down Bolsa Avenue on Saturday morning at the city's annual Tet Parade.
 
Jordan Nguyen-Ho, 7, and his dog Lucky, have a front row seat for watching the 2010 Westminster Tet Parade Saturday. More than 90 groups walked the route, celebrating the new Year of the Tiger..

This is the third year that the city has organized the parade. City officials said there were more than 90 groups and 1,600 participants at this year's parade. This was also the first time that various Vietnamese gay groups participated in the traditional parade. That sparked a protest and boycott from the Catholic Church and the Vietnamese Interfaith Council of America, causing the Kights of Columbus to withdraw from the parade two days ago.
The gay groups – Song That Radio, the Vietnamese Gay Alliance, O-Moi and The Vietnamese Lesbian and Bisexual Women Network and Friends – got a mixed reaction from parade watchers. Some cheered and others booed – but most of the spectators had no reaction to the cheery group dressed in traditional Vietnamese costumes carrying rainbow flags and group signs.
"Go home," yelled Westminster resident Mai Nguyen, who was holding a sign that read: "God created Man and Woman."
"I don't agree with what they say and do," Nguyen said. "I say don't ask, don't tell. You don't have to show us what you believe in. We don't want to see it."
Westminster Councilman Andy Quach was missing from the parade car that had his name on it. He had released a letter to the Vietnamese media earlier this week in support of the religious leaders' boycott, but maintained that the gay groups still have the right to march in the parade because it is a city-run event.
Others said the gays have a right to march, just as anyone else.
"It's really unfortunate people are against them marching in a joyful community parade," said Kimberly Nguyen, a Westminster resident. "They're people just like us, no matter which path they choose."
But Ann Lam, who came to the United States in 1975 after the fall of Saigon, said she is "ashamed" that homosexuals are part of her community.
"I'm disappointed," she said and yelled "Shame on you" as the groups walked by. "But this is a free country. They can do what they do."
The four groups issued a prepared statement Saturday.
"Because we are part of the Vietnamese community, we feel that we, LGBT people, have the right to join our families and fellow Vietnamese in celebration of Tet," the statement read. "There is no better time to be united with our families within the Vietnamese community."
Though these groups have been marching in San Jose's Tet Parade since 2004, this is the first time they were participating in a Tet Parade in Orange County's Little Saigon, which is home to the largest Vietnamese population outside Vietnam.
Spectators at the parade said they were there to celebrate the spirit of the New Year.
"I come to Little Saigon every weekend to shop," said Hachong Van of Anaheim. "Today, I'm celebrating with my community."
Henry Duong, a Little Saigon resident, said he would come to the Tet Parade every year.
"I don't care," he said. "It's a time for all us to be happy together."

Contact the writer: 714-796-7909 or dbharath@ocregister.com