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Dublin's Gay Pride Condemns NY City's Saint Patrick's Day Parade

by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | March 17, 2010 at 08:27 am

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Dublin Gay Pride has Harsh Criticism for Saint Patrick's Day Parade in NYC: "Anti-Gay Exclusion and Discrimination"

Because it refuses to allow gay groups to participate , New York City's Saint Patrick's Day Parade has received criticism from Dublin's gay pride organization.

The gay organization has said that it finds the exclusion of gay groups to be "deeply discriminatory", and that it is demeaning to Ireland's "rich cultural heritage".

The 27-year-old Dublin Pride attracts over 100,000 people to the Irish capital every June and calls itself one of the cornerstones of Irish diversity.

Click here for more information on Dublin Pride.

Queerty Blog says "It's their right to exclude gays"

Queerty Blog points out that because the Saint Patrick's Day Parade is a private event, in the snese that it is not funded, hosted, or directed by any city governmental office, they are within their rights to exclude gay groups, just as Gay Pride parades are free to exclude others.

The gay blog then points out quite reasonably that demands to be included in the parade by gays, could lead to Christian and anti-gay groups demanding to be included in Gay Pride marches.

The Saint Patrick's Day Parade which begins on Fifth Avenue in New York City and is hosted by the Hiberians is not the "official " parade, although most deem it so because of its large organization and history.

This gay group suggests that others stop attempting to force themselves in, and rather use the event to educate the public. Discrimination may be immoral, but it is a first amendment right, a civil right.

"The exclusion of any groups from celebrating our national holiday abroad is deeply discriminatory and rooted in closed-mindedness; this is deeply un-Irish and something that we cannot allow to happen in the name of an event that is about celebrating Ireland's rich cultural heritage, of which the LGBT community are a cornerstone here in Ireland," Frank Cleary, chairman of Dublin Pride, said in a press release. "Dublin Pride is calling on the organizers of the St. Patrick's Day festival in New York to cease their discrimination and to facilitate a full expression of the cultural diversity that exists in Ireland."

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Rory Cripps

at 08:53 on March 17th, 2010

JEEZ!

Rory Cripps

at 09:17 on March 17th, 2010

This controversy has been going on for as long as I can remember. I'm really surprised that it hasn't been resolved. For the 40 plus years that I lived in NY, I never attended a St. Patrick's day parade.

Amy Judd

at 11:04 on March 17th, 2010

I never knew they weren't allowed, how interesting.

Rory Cripps

at 12:30 on March 17th, 2010

Amy: Yeah. I guess it has a lot to do with the religious component and the fact that many of New York's Irish/Catholics are quite conservative.

Barry ORegan

at 15:29 on March 17th, 2010

For a second there, I thought that was Zena in person. MMMMMMM Zena,,,,,,,,,,,,,,drooooooooool

Rory Cripps

at 15:32 on March 17th, 2010

Barry: You sound like me . . .a sexist pig. LOL!

antonio uk (not verified)

at 06:01 on March 18th, 2010

good on the hibernians why should they allow another minority to hijack what is basically a family day out, why should our children watch disgusting behaviour from gay men cavorting in the streets in full view of people. i dont mind gays attending or marching but the next thing will be pink flags instead of green. keep up the good work and keep em banned