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
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
“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.
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.
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Banner Image: Gay Pride. Image Credit – Cecilie Johnsen
KC Hankins
🧑🏼🏫 Public school teacher • @mathforamerica 🗳 Politico • Exec Board @sdnyc • Past Prez @siYoungDems • @RainbowRunSI🌈 • they/he
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.