Community Leaders Call On NY to Suspend Use Of Public Funds For LGBT-Excluded St Patrick’s Day Parade

STATEN ISLAND, NY — New York City does not stand for exclusion and discrimination, yet the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the organizing committee of the Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade continues to discriminate against LGBTQ+ groups by not allowing them to march in the parade. The undersigned community leaders call upon the City of New York to suspend the use of public funds for the Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade until the organizing committee stops discriminating against marginalized groups when choosing which organizations march in the parade. 

 

Since 2011, the Pride Center of Staten Island and other LGBTQ+ groups have been systematically denied the ability to march in the parade, and it is long past time the City of New York put a stop to this discrimination. Issuing a permit to an organization that has consistently discriminated against LGBTQ+ groups is unacceptable, and the use of public funds for this event must be put to a stop if the group is going to continue to discriminate.

Gay Pride Parade. Image Credit - Mercedes Mehling

Gay Pride Parade. Image Credit – Mercedes Mehling

This year, the Pride Center of Staten Island, NYPD GOAL and FDNY Fire Flag were all once again denied marching in the parade by the parade organizers on Sunday, Feb. 20. 

 

We will be having a press conference before the start of the St. Patrick’s Day parade at the beginning of the parade route on Forest Avenue and Hart Blvd on Sunday, March 6 at 11:00 AM.

 

After the press conference, we will be having our Annual Rainbow Run down the Staten Island Athletic Club (SIAC) Forest Avenue Mile, as well as lining the streets with rainbows and signs supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion.

A little St. Patty's Day crafting. Image Credit - Cooking Cinderella

A little St. Patty’s Day crafting. Image Credit – Cooking Cinderella

“Even in 2022, members of the LGBTQ+ community are continuing to have our identities swept under the rug and prevented from enjoying the same privileges as our straight counterparts,” said NYC Council Member Lynn Schulman. “It is disheartening that The Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade organizers have decided to exclude some of their neighbors and community members in an event that should be open to all.”

 

You can find relevant coverage from the past 11 years press here.

Carol Bullock

she/her

Pride Center of Staten Island

Executive Director

[email protected] 

KC Hankins

he/they

Stonewall Democrats NYC Board Member 

Rainbow Run Organizer 

[email protected]

The undersigned community leaders call upon the City of New York to suspend the use of public funds for the Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade until the organizing committee stops discriminating against marginalized groups when choosing which organizations march in the parade. 

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

she/her

US Senator for NY State

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams

he/him

NYC Public Advocate

Comptroller Brad Lander

he/him

NYC Comptroller 

Council Member Crystal Hudson

she/her

NYC City Council Member, District 35

Council Member Lynn Schulman

she/her

NYC City Council Member, District 29

Justin Sanchez

he/him

President, Stonewall Democrats NYC

Nicholas Tamborra

he/him

President, Lambda Independent Democrats

Allen Roskoff

he/him

Jim Owles Democratic Club

Jasi Robinson

she/her

AD 61 District Leader

Derek Gaskill

he/him

President, Lambda Independent Democrats

Émilia Decaudin 

she/her

AD 37A State Committee Member & District Leader

Rose Christ

She/Her

Past President, Stonewall Democrats NYC

Dr. Regina D. Cassidy

she/her

Chaplain

Melisa Sklarz

she/her

AD 30 State Committee Member & District Leader

Lewis Goldstein

he/him

NYS Democratic Committee 

Vice Chair, Bronx Democratic Committee

Julio Peña III 

he/they

AD 51 State Committee Member & District Leader

Brian Romero

he/him

Past President, Stonewall Democrats NYC

Kelly Villar

she/her

Founder, Staten Island Urban Center

Marianne Brennick

she/her

Staten Island Community Leader

Michael Mulgrew

he/him

President, United Federation of Teachers

Jeremiah Jurkiewicz

he/him

Staten Island Community Leader

Marcy Carr

she/her

Global Advisory Council, InterPride; District VP United States Associations of Pride; Regional Director Northeast Region of Pride (USA)

Andrew Savage

he/him

Past President, Young Democrats of Richmond County

Rosemary F, Palladino, Esq.  

she/her

Staten Island Community Leader

Rev. Karen Jackson

she/her

Co-Chair, Staten Island Inter-Religious Leadership

Dominick Derubbio 

he/him

Past President, Young Democrats of Richmond County 

Danny Harris

He/Him

Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives

Sally Jones

she/her

Chair, Peace Action Fund of New York State

Vanessa-Renee Mical

she/her

Democratic Party County Committee Member

Scott Van Campen & DB Lampman

Owners, Makerspace NYC

Stephanie Ward

She/her

Staten Island Women Who March

Rose Uscianowski

she/her

Staten Island Community Activists

Yesenia Mata

she/her

Executive Director, La Colmena NYC

Cesar Varga

he/him

Michael De Vito Jr. 

he/him

Executive Director, New York Center for Interpersonal Development, Inc.

 

 
   

Banner Image: Gay Pride. Image Credit – Cecilie Johnsen

KC Hankins

🧑🏼‍🏫 Public school teacher • @mathforamerica 🗳 Politico • Exec Board @sdnyc • Past Prez @siYoungDems • @RainbowRunSI🌈 • they/he

One Comment

  • Avatar average Catholic Joe says:

    I don’t even know what to say. It’s just a F****G parade! If you’re LGBTQ don’t sweat it. This parade SUCKS anyway. Do something worthwhile that day other than be around a bunch of judgemental SAINTS. Saints? Are they, really?

    The gall that they exclude ANYONE! Let them keep their lame parade!!

    It really shows how much they JUDGE (just like Jesus said not to?! lol). So, like, none of the holier-than-though Hibernians ever cheated on their wife? Ever lied? Stole? THEY say gay is a sin. OK. That is their right to believe that and interpret Scripture that way. Fine. That is their legal right.

    But not in public, spreading that message in a public parade. C’mon. And, it’s just sooo judgemental. We all have an LGBTQ person in our family or circle of friends. If the Pope can extend a hand in friendship to gay people, why can’t average Catholics?

    Don’t pretend it’s about the Faith. It’s about hatred of gay people. No one is perfect. Yet these people throw many large stones.

    I am not gay but I understand the plight. Being excluded. In the end, it’s better to just go and do your own thing. Some people are just full of hate. Let he without sins throw the first stones. I am not into LGBQ culture, and I think modesty is best, gay or straight, but I am not trying to live in a Christian version of Sharia law. So, do your thing. Be free. But just remember to be the best version of yourself. That you can be.

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