A controversial men’s rights group has seen its permit to march in the Pride parade revoked just days before the event after a behind-the-scenes campaign to get them removed.

The Canadian Association for Equality (CAFE), which bills itself as a “men’s issues” organization, learned earlier this week that they would not be allowed to march in Sunday’s parade because some people felt their work went against the values of the 10-day LGBTQ celebration. CAFE marched in the parade last year.

Pride executive director Kevin Beaulieu was vague on Friday about the reasons for CAFE’s exclusion.

“There has been some concern expressed about the activities and purpose of CAFE and whether they actually match the intent they express,” he said. Asked to be more specific, Beaulieu replied, “I’m really not going to go into that.”

CAFE has faced criticism for its association with anti-feminist websites like A Voice for Men and for apparently misrepresenting itself to the Canada Revenue Agency in its successful charity-status application last year. In that case, CAFE listed women’s groups as potential members of panel discussions who denied having been approached by the organization.

Still, female members of CAFE deny that their group is sexist. “I’m a women who’s involved in this, and we’ve been accused of being misogynist, we’ve been accused of being anti-feminist, and I can tell you I would never be involved with anything like that,” said Eleanor Levine, a Toronto social worker and member of the CAFE advisory board.

Levine also complained that Pride had broken its own rules by barring CAFE so close to the parade. Pride’s Dispute Resolution Process requires that complaints against a group be submitted by June 4, and that if a group is excluded from the parade, the decision must be made by June 21. Neither deadline was met in this case.

“It’s regrettable that it came so close to the festival,” Beaulieu said of the decision to cancel CAFE’s permit.

Beaulieu added that he explained his reasoning to Justin Trottier, a prominent men’s rights activist and CAFE member. Trottier declined to comment, saying he wasn’t authorized to speak for the group.

Pride has a history of withstanding political controversy over the groups permitted to march in its keynote parade. Queers Against Israeli Apartheid has taken part in the event since 2010, despite opposition from Jewish organizations like B’nai Brith and prominent politicians like Mayor Rob Ford and former deputy mayor Doug Holyday.

Levine said she was “disappointed” by Pride’s decision. “Either you include everyone or you have very valid reasons for not including someone.”

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