As first reported a month ago by Irish Voice, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio will, for the first time ever, march in this year’s New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
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The mayor will march in two St. Patrick’s Day parades in Queens this weekend – including one that he was booed at previous year after turning up late.
Members of the Lavender and Green Alliance, an Irish LGBT group which through the years has voiced its opposition and fought against the ban, will be one of many marchers during the parade.
The Mayor of NY has praised the Irish Government for it is work in promoting gay rights.
Parade board member Frank McGreal said that the event this year would celebrate the centenary of the 1916 Rising and the Proclamation that promised to cherish “all the children of the nation equally”.
Francis’ message of inclusion, de Blasio said, helped set the tone for this year’s inclusive parade.
Parade organisers have now lifted the ban on LGBTQ groups marching in the parade, which means that de Blasio will end his boycott of the parade.
Mr de Blasio told the Associated Press that the parade “is a New York City tradition, but for years Irish LGBT New Yorkers could not show their pride”. “This is who we’ve been for centuries”, de Blasio said.
1010 WINS’ Juliet Papa reports allowing gay groups to participate in the parade was all worked out over a pot of tea.
The Texas senator was “making sport of the idea that we should deprive people of the blessings of the United States of America and separate families and tear them apart.
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It’s NY once again sending the message that NY values are American values”, de Blasio said. Next year, organizers said, could include more.
