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De Blasio Will Boycott St. Patrick's Day Parade Unless It Becomes More Inclusive
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 2, 2015
Modified Mar 2, 2015
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By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 2, 2015
Modified Mar 2, 2015
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During an appearance at a St. Patrick's Day parade in Sunnyside, Queens yesterday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that he will not participate in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Manhattan unless more LGBT groups are permitted. Although parade organizers have decided to allow one gay group to openly march in the parade, many, including de Blasio, feel that doesn't go far enough. "A lot of people feel, I think rightfully, that that is too small a change to merit a lot of us participating who have wanted to see an inclusive parade," the mayor said.
De Blasio joined other officials in boycotting the Fifth Avenue parade last year, becoming the first mayor in twenty years to refuse to participate. After Guinness, one of the parade's major sponsors, withdrew its support, parade organizers announced that a group called OUT@NBCUniversal would be allowed to march. That group represents LGBT employees at NBC, which broadcasts the parade.
"I’m not ready to commit to marching, because all we’ve heard is that one delegation related to NBC will be allowed to have members of the LGBT community in it," de Blasio told reporters yesterday. "Even though it is a statement of some progress that this NBC delegation has been included. We need something more for it to really feel like we’ve turned the corner here."
Protesters at last year's parade. (Camille Lawhead / Gothamist)
The Manhattan St. Patrick's Day parade, which was first held in 1762, is scheduled for March 17th.
Tagged
bill de blasio
gay rights
st. patrick's day parade
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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