NY St. Pattys Day Parade – more anti-gay than Irish

By Timothy Kincaid-

   The Ancient Order of Hibernians, who control and operate the St. Patrict’s Day Parade in New York City, have long opposed allowing gay Irishmen to participate as such. This is matter of pride as good Irish Catholics. Of course, real good Irish Catholics don’t have so much of a problem with Teh Ghey. The Irish in Ireland seem to be rather fond of gay folk. So much so, that the President of Ireland declined an offer to be Grand Marshall of the parade if they wouldn’t let gay folk participate. (Irish Central)

  Irish President Mary McAleese has just turned down an invitation to be grand marshal of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade in 2011, the historic 250th anniversary of the event. The turn down is said to be connected to the issue of gays being refused the right to march in the parade under their own banners, and McAleese’s strong relationship with gay and lesbian organizations in Ireland.

   Although having President McAleese (a devout Catholic) as Grand Marshall on this important anniversary would have been quite a coup for the AOH, it was far more important that they keep gay Irish people out of the Irish celebration.

   It’s with a great sense of irony that most St. Patrick’s Day celebrations exclude gay and lesbian Irish-Americans.

   Only three out of the hundreds of parades and other celebrations throughout the U.S. that mark the birthday of Ireland’s patron saint welcome community members.

   Two are in gay Meccas-San Francisco and Key West. The third, in Queens, N.Y., was created expressly to welcome LGBT Irish-Americans. In fact, it is called a "welcoming" St. Pat’s parade and all groups, regardless of their ethnicity or minority status, are included.

   Why is this so ironic? Because for centuries, the Irish themselves were among the most discriminated against group in the United States and Great Britain. Their struggle mirrors ours. Until the early 20th century, they suffered job, housing and other forms of discrimination in the U.S. 

A the 2006 Queens, N.Y. parade, l. to r.: Tim O’Connor, consul general of Ireland; Mayor Mike Bloomberg; Christine Quinn, the 'out' president of the City Council; Congressman Joseph Crowle. 

 

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