The organisers of a controversial “Straight Pride” rally proposed for Boston, Massachusetts are heavily linked with far-right movements and nationalist protests, it has emerged.

Plans for the parade were widely shared on social media this week, despite no date yet being set and no permit being granted by the city council.

The organiser – a newly formed group calling itself Super Happy Fun America – suggested the event would be a chance to celebrate being heterosexual.

It has already had to remove photos of Brad Pitt from its website after the actor, who had not given permission for his image to be used, threatened legal action.

Now questions have been raised over the past political activities of the trio of men behind the group, John Hugo, Mark Sahady and Chris Bartley.

Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Show all 45 1 /45 Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Guadalajara, Mexico epa07619279 Members and sympathizers of the LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex) community participate in the Guadalajara Pride march to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 01 June 2019. EPA/FRANCISCO GUASCO FRANCISCO GUASCO EPA Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Seoul, South Korea A participant poses prior to a Pride event in support of LGBT rights in Seoul on June 1, 2019. - Tens of thousands of gay rights supporters paraded through central Seoul despite South Korea's main conservative opposition party denouncing the Pride event in a country where Christian churches have enduring political influence. (Photo by Ed JONES / AFP)ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images ED JONES AFP/Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Kiev, Ukraine A participant lies on a giant Transgender Pride Flag during the Equality March, organized by the LGBT community in Kiev, Ukraine June 23, 2019. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Reuters Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Roosevelt Island, New York A man poses for a picture on steps covered in rainbow colors for Pride Month at Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park on June 15, 2019 in New York City. - Organizers claim it is the largest LGBT pride flag in New York City and measures around 12 by 100 feet (3.6 x 30 meters). (Photo by Johannes EISELE / AFP)JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Hollywood, California WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 09: Willam Belli seen at the LA Pride Parade on June 09, 2019 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images) Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Vienna, Austria A reveller takes part in the LGBT Rainbow Parade during the EuroPride in Vienna, Austria June 15, 2019. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner Reuters Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Santiago, Chile A couple is seen near Chile's presidential palace La Moneda, which is illuminated in the colours of the pride flag to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, in Santiago, Chile, May 17, 2019. REUTERS/Pablo Sanhueza NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES Reuters Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Hollywood, California WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 09: A reveler poses at the Los Angeles Pride parade on June 9, 2019 in West Hollywood, California. The 49th annual parade, celebrating LGBTQ identity, drew thousands to the streets of West Hollywood. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world San Jose, Costa Rica epa07669770 People participate in the Pride March, held to show support of the rights of the LGTBI community, in San Jose, Costa Rica, 23 June 2019. The march was the first held since Costa Rica legalized same-sex marriage, which will go into effect in May 2020. EPA/Jeffrey Arguedas EPA Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Tel Aviv, Israel epa07649023 A view of the crowds as they pass on the Mediterranean Sea front promenade during the Gay Pride parade in Tel Aviv, Israel, 14 June 2019. Israel is hosting Gay Pride parades in 12 different cities in the month of June, making it one of the Mediterranean Sea's most popular vacation destination for the LGBT communities. About one-quarter million people took part in Tel Aviv's parade, the largest crowd in the Middle East for such an event. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER EPA Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Edinburgh, Scotland Pride marchers at a rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday June 22, 2019. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire Andrew Milligan PA Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Hollywood, California A woman and her dog participate in the annual LA Pride Parade in West Hollywood, California, on June 9, 2019. - LA Pride began on June 28, 1970, exactly one year after the historic Stonewall Rebellion in New York City, 50 years ago. (Photo by Agustin PAULLIER / AFP)AGUSTIN PAULLIER/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Dublin, Ireland Rugby players kiss as they pose for a picture in the entertainment area at the Union Cup, Europe's biggest LGBT+ inclusive rugby tournament in Dublin, Ireland on June 8, 2019. - Educating the young about the evils of homophobia was a pivotal message from Europe's largest LGBT+ inclusive rugby tournament, the biennial Union Cup in Dublin last weekend. (Photo by PAUL FAITH / AFP) / TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY PIRATE IRWINPAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Edinburgh, Scotland Pride marchers at a rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday June 22, 2019. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire Andrew Milligan PA Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Guadalajara, Mexico epa07619278 Members and sympathizers of the LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex) community participate in the Guadalajara Pride march to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 01 June 2019. EPA/FRANCISCO GUASCO FRANCISCO GUASCO EPA Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Seoul, South Korea Participants march during a Pride event in support of LGBT rights in Seoul on June 1, 2019. - Tens of thousands of gay rights supporters paraded through central Seoul despite South Korea's main conservative opposition party denouncing the Pride event in a country where Christian churches have enduring political influence. (Photo by Ed JONES / AFP)ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images ED JONES AFP/Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Guadalajara, Mexico Revelers attend the Guadalajara Pride march in demand of sexual diversity rights, in Guadalajara, State of Jalisco, Mexico, on June 1, 2019. (Photo by Ulises Ruiz / AFP)ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images ULISES RUIZ AFP/Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Taipei, Taiwan TAIPEI, TAIWAN - MAY 16: A woman holds a dog with a gay pride ribbon tied around its neck as she joins an LGBT rights protest outside a parliamentary administration building where politicians are continuing to discuss same-sex marriage bills ahead of a vote on Friday, on May 16, 2019 in Taipei, Taiwan. Taiwan's parliament on Tuesday began efforts to reconcile three competing bills on same-sex marriage that will determine how same-sex relationships are defined in the future. The conclusions reached during Tuesday's negotiations are expected to be put to a parliamentary vote on May 17. Implementation of the bill put forward by the executive branch of the government, or a failure to deliver a bill, would see Taiwan becoming the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images) Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Rome, Italy A woman wears wings shaped as a heart as she takes part in the annual Gay Pride parade in the Italian capital Rome on June 8, 2019. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images FILIPPO MONTEFORTE AFP/Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Hollywood, California WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 07: Performers pose for a portrait backstage at the Vogue Ball during the LA Pride 2019 on June 07, 2019 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images) Matt Winkelmeyer Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Hollywood, California WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 08: Attendees at day 2 of LA Pride 2019 on June 07, 2019 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images) Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Brooklyn, New York Participants takes part in the Brooklyn Pride Twilight Parade in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, U.S., June 8, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Reuters Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Warsaw, Poland People take part in a gay pride parade in Warsaw, Poland, on Saturday, June 8, 2019. The Equality Parade is the largest gay pride parade in central and Eastern Europe. It brought thousands of people to the streets of Warsaw at a time when the LGBT rights movement in Poland is targeted by hate speeches and a government campaign depicting it as a threat to families and society. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Czarek Sokolowski AP Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Washington DC epa07636226 People participate in the DC Pride Parade in Washington, DC, USA, 08 June 2019. The parade is part of DC's Capital Pride Weekend to celebrate the LGBTQ community. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER EPA Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Rome, Italy TOPSHOT - Women wave the rainbow flag as they take part in the annual Gay Pride parade in the Italian capital Rome on June 8, 2019. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images FILIPPO MONTEFORTE AFP/Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Sofia, Bulgaria epa07635376 People walking during the Pride Parade in the downtown of Sofia, Bulgaria 08 June 2019. The Sofia Pride LGBT parade takes place in the Bulgarian capital against the discrimination of people with various sexual orientation. EPA/VASSIL DONEV VASSIL DONEV EPA Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Warsaw, Poland People wave rainbow flags during the Baltic gay pride parade on June 8, 2019 on the streets of the Polish capital Warsaw. (Photo by Janek SKARZYNSKI / AFP)JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP/Getty Images JANEK SKARZYNSKI AFP/Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Warsaw, Poland People take part in a gay pride parade in Warsaw, Poland, on Saturday, June 8, 2019. The Equality Parade is the largest gay pride parade in central and Eastern Europe. It brought thousands of people to the streets of Warsaw at a time when the LGBT rights movement in Poland is targeted by hate speeches and a government campaign depicting it as a threat to families and society. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Czarek Sokolowski AP Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Tirana, Albania Albanian LGBT activists attend Tirana Gay Pride to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) on the main boulevard in Tirana on May 18, 2019. - Only in recent years has the LGBT community in Albania emerged from marginalised and underground activities to hold public events and parades, although not entirely without causing controversy and prejudice in this small Balkan nation which until the collapse of the communist regime in 1990 penalised homosexuality. (Photo by Gent SHKULLAKU / AFP)GENT SHKULLAKU/AFP/Getty Images GENT SHKULLAKU AFP/Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Brussels, Belgium epa07581747 People take part at the Belgian Pride 2018 in Brussels, Belgium, 18 May 2019. Belgian Pride is dedicated to the fight against homophobia and visibility of LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenders, Queer, Intersex). More than 10,000 people usually attend the event. EPA/ARIS OIKONOMOU ARIS OIKONOMOU EPA Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Brussels, Belgium epa07581744 A reveler takes part at the Belgian Pride 2018 in Brussels, Belgium, 18 May 2019. Belgian Pride is dedicated to the fight against homophobia and visibility of LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenders, Queer, Intersex). More than 10,000 people usually attend the event. EPA/ARIS OIKONOMOU ARIS OIKONOMOU EPA Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Bogota, Colombia A reveler takes part in the gay pride parade in Bogota to demand equal rights for same sex couples, on May 19, 2019. (Photo by DANIEL MUNOZ / AFP)DANIEL MUNOZ/AFP/Getty Images DANIEL MUNOZ AFP/Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Bogota, Colombia Women hold banners during the gay pride parade in Bogota to demand equal rights for same sex couples, on May 19, 2019. (Photo by DANIEL MUNOZ / AFP)DANIEL MUNOZ/AFP/Getty Images DANIEL MUNOZ AFP/Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Sao Paulo, Brazil REFILE - UPDATING REVELLER'S NAME Gilson from Germany poses with an American flag as he participates in the Gay Pride parade along Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo, Brazil, June 23, 2019. REUTERS/Nacho Doce Reuters Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Santiago, Chile epaselect epa07667335 Participants of the LGBT pride march, in Chile, Santiago, 22 June 2019. The cessation of violence against people of sexual and gender diversity and full legal equality are the main demands that the 19th Pride March called for today through the streets of Santiago. EPA/Alberto Valdes EPA Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Seoul, South Korea Participants carry a flag as they march during a Pride event in support of LGBT rights in Seoul on June 1, 2019. - Tens of thousands of gay rights supporters paraded through central Seoul despite South Korea's main conservative opposition party denouncing the Pride event in a country where Christian churches have enduring political influence. (Photo by Ed JONES / AFP)ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images ED JONES AFP/Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Seoul, South Korea Participants march during a Pride event in support of LGBT rights in Seoul on June 1, 2019. - Tens of thousands of gay rights supporters paraded through central Seoul despite South Korea's main conservative opposition party denouncing the Pride event in a country where Christian churches have enduring political influence. (Photo by Ed JONES / AFP)ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images ED JONES AFP/Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Guadalajara, Mexico epa07619273 Members and sympathizers of the LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex) community participate in the Guadalajara Pride march to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 01 June 2019. EPA/FRANCISCO GUASCO FRANCISCO GUASCO EPA Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Jerusalem, Israel Two women kiss in a rainbow flag as participants take part in the 18th annual Jerusalem Gay Pride parade on June 06, 2019. - Thousands were expected to participate in Jerusalem's annual Gay Pride march Thursday under high security following a knife attack by a Jewish religious extremist that killed a teenager in 2015. Police were deploying some 2,500 undercover and uniformed officers for the parade that starts at a park in the Holy City and continues through nearby streets in the late afternoon and into the evening. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images MENAHEM KAHANA AFP/Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Jerusalem, Israel epa07630542 member of the LGBT(lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex) community poses for a photo during the annual Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem, Israel, 06 June 2019. Under heavy police security, thousands of people marched at the 18th Jerusalem March for pride and tolerance, this year's parade theme is "One Community - Many Faces" as marchers call for equality, security and freedom for the LGBT community. EPA/ABIR SULTAN ABIR SULTAN EPA Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Jerusalem, Israel Revellers take part in an annual gay pride parade in Jerusalem June 6, 2019. REUTERS/Amir Cohen AMIR COHEN Reuters Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Sao Paulo, Brazil A traffic signal depicting a same-sex couple is seen at a pedestrian crossing ahead of the 23rd Gay Pride parade along Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo, Brazil, June 22, 2019. REUTERS/Nacho Doce Reuters Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Hollywood, California WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 07: Performers perform onstage during the Vogue Ball LA Pride 2019 on June 07, 2019 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images) Matt Winkelmeyer Getty Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Rome, Italy People take part in the Gay Pride Parade in Rome, Italy, June 8, 2019. REUTERS/ Yara Nardi YARA NARDI Reuters Best photos from Pride 2019 around the world Rome, Italy People take part in the Gay Pride Parade in Rome, Italy, June 8, 2019. REUTERS/ Yara Nardi YARA NARDI Reuters

Mr Sahady and Mr Bartley are both heavily associated with Resist Marxism – a loose ultra-conservative group found to have links to white supremacist organisations – while Mr Hugo ran, unsuccessfully, for congress in 2018 with an endorsement from the same group.

Mr Sahady is also reported to have organised the right-wing Free Speech Rally and Rally for the Republic, both in Boston, in the aftermath of the infamous Unite the Right march in Virginia in August 2017, during which a counter-protester was killed.

Attendees at both Mr Sahady’s events were vastly outnumbered by counter-protestors.

Another rally the software engineer led in Providence, Rhode Island attracted just a few dozen people – some wearing masks in an apparent bid to hide their identity.

He is also reported to have marched with members of far-right groups Patriot Prayer and Proud Boys in Portland, Oregon in June 2018 – an event which descended into such violence police in the city officially labelled it a riot.

And in January this year, he and other Resist Marxism associates led a counter-protest against the Boston Women’s March, which descended into a fracas, reports David Neiwert, author of Alt America: The Rise of the Radical Right in the Age of Trump and long-time observer of the US right.

Resist Marxism itself does not have members – its leaders organise events for anyone who wants to go along, allowing it to have become a nimble unofficial meeting hub for nationalists and white supremacists.

Speaking after news of the proposed Straight Pride rally went viral, the mayor of Boston Marty Walsh confirmed permission had not yet been granted for the parade but wrote on Twitter: “Permits to host a public event are granted based on operational feasibility, not based on values or endorsements of beliefs.

“The city of Boston cannot deny a permit based on an organisation’s values.”

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But he added on Twitter: “Whatever outside groups may try do, our values won’t change.

“I invite each and every person to stand with us, and show that love will always prevail. Join us in celebration this Saturday for the @bostonpride Parade and in the fight for progress and equality for all.”