LGBTQ teams will probably be allowed to march in Staten Island’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade for the primary time ever this 12 months, organizers introduced Tuesday — ending a long-running controversy over the annual occasion’s anti-gay stance.
The announcement adopted years of boycotts from native pols over LGBTQ teams being banned from marching within the borough’s annual Irish heritage parade.
“The Richmond County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee needs to announce that the Staten Island Delight Heart has been invited to march, underneath their very own banner, within the 2025 Saint Patrick’s Day Parade,” the committee wrote in an announcement first shared with Staten Island Advance.
“The parade committee is entrusted with guaranteeing the main focus of the parade stays upon Saint Patrick, the historical past, traditions, tradition and religion of the Irish folks,” the committee added. “On this endeavor, the management of The Delight Heart has assured the parade committee that they’re prepared to offer assist to the parade in fulfilling this obligation.”
The Richmond County St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a 60-year-old custom within the borough, is believed to be the final on the earth to have excluded LGBTQ neighborhood members from marching – together with Miss Staten Island 2020 Madison L’Insalata, who was banned from the festivities after popping out as bisexual that 12 months to The Publish.
Metropolis Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-Staten Island) was additionally barred from marching within the parade that very same 12 months — as a result of he was carrying a tiny satisfaction pin.
Borelli, who confirmed up together with his spouse and their two sons, beforehand informed The Publish the parade marshals “known as the police” on him.
A separate procession was held on Staten Island final March, two weeks after the official St. Patrick’s Day Parade, that allowed LGBTQ teams to take part.
“We’re actually honored to be invited to march within the St. Patrick’s Day Parade,” the Delight Heart of Staten Island, credited by Mayor Eric Adams for its advocacy main as much as the committee’s choice, wrote in an announcement Tuesday.
“This occasion is a time-honored custom that brings folks collectively from all walks of life to rejoice Irish tradition, and we’re excited to be a part of this vibrant neighborhood celebration,” the group added.
In an announcement, Adams stated he was “thrilled” with the choice by the organizing committee.
“From day one, our administration has been clear that celebrations in our metropolis ought to be welcoming and inclusive, which is why we introduced the neighborhood collectively, together with the Staten Island Enterprise Outreach Heart, to create the first-ever — and extremely profitable — fully-inclusive St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Staten Island earlier this 12 months,” Adams stated.
“We’re thrilled that, this 12 months, Staten Island’s LGBTQ+ neighborhood will lastly be welcome to march underneath their very own banner within the Richmond County St. Patrick’s Day Parade and we applaud the committee for coming to this choice, which was a long-time coming,” the assertion stated. “Congratulations to the Staten Island neighborhood, together with the Delight Heart of Staten Island and the Lavender and Inexperienced Alliance, for his or her lengthy advocacy for inclusion.”
The primary LGBTQ-inclusive parade is slated to step off on March 2, 2025.
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