Only three St. Patrick's Day parades in America welcome gays as a group to march.
Two are in San Francisco and Key West Florida - both cities with very large Gay communities .
The third is a specially organized gay and lesbian led St. Patrick's celebration in Queens, New York usually attended by Mayor Bloomberg and other powerful political figures .
Ironically, in Ireland, where attitudes to gays are far behind those in many American cities, gays are welcome in both the Dublin and Cork marches, the two largest.
There are many and complex reasons why gays are so excluded from American marches, the much larger role of the Catholic Church for instance in the New York parade is one, but isn't it high time we got rid of the excuses that prevent gays from marching from coast to coast?
Isn't it time we of the heterosexual Irish community here in America extended that hand of friendship to gays in more marches? What on earth are we afraid of? They are our brothers, sisters, fellow workers, friends and family.
Some of the great heroes of Irish history such as Roger Casement and possibly Patrick Pearse were gay. Some of our great writers such as Oscar Wilde and Church leaders were undoubtedly gay also .One of the great heroes of 9/11, Father Mychal Judge, openly admitted he was gay. Was he any less a hero as a result?
So what's the big deal? What are we so afraid of ?
At a time when the military is reviewing its 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' it may be time we had our own Irish version of that I'll call 'Don't march, Go to hell" removed.
We are bigger than exclusion, better than keeping fellow Irish people out. We suffered enough exclusion in our time from 'No Irish Need Apply' in America to 'No Irish, Blacks or dogs' in Britain.
It's time we put up the Cead Mile Failte signs ( A hundred thousand welcomes) to all Irish irrespective of color, creed, or sexual orientation on St. Patrick's Day. It is beyond time actually. Who will be first to step forward?
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Conjoly | Mar 15, 2010, 02:43 AM EDT
Let's be clear. The St. Patrick's Day parade is not a religious celebration. It's a National Day celebration. Gay groups have been marching in the Dublin and Cork parades for years with absolutely no controversy. Have a look through the statistics, real Irish people are loooooong over this issue (a bill on same sex marriage is due to be presented in this Dail (that's if the coalition lasts)). Why are Irish Americans so very old-fashioned?
JTravis | Mar 10, 2010, 04:07 PM EST
Gays always were and still are welcome ro march in the St Patricks Day Parades. Just not as a Gay Organization. None of the groups that do march proclaim they are Heterosexuals. Its about Patrick, NOT about Sexual Orientation.
JimThompson | Mar 03, 2010, 08:36 PM EST
Why are we so worried ab out gays, etc. being equal. Thought homosexuality was more of a sickness or prevertedness rther than a third sex. Next we will be asking that we accept those that like young chuildren or animals as sex partners.
VictoriaJosephine | Mar 03, 2010, 06:03 PM EST
Political statements are not allowed in the parade.Homosexuals have marched and will be continued to be welcomed to march-but not under a gay banner. Just as politicians are not allowed to carry banners in support of their political office.
murphy666 | Mar 03, 2010, 12:20 PM EST
Gay parades should be confined to the Hershey Highway.
Sonnycon | Mar 03, 2010, 11:11 AM EST
It is NOT a sexual orientation parade! What do people want...banners for bi-sexuals, trans-sexuals, etc. Enough already - New York has long had a gay pride parade. I'd bet the house that there have been homosexual people marching in every St. Patrick's...& probably every other parade for that matter. Stop trying to hijack this parade for a non ethnic/cultural related political agenda.
Bushothehill | Mar 03, 2010, 09:32 AM EST
Last time I looked, St.Patrick's Day and parade was a religious commemeration of a great man of God who converted the pagans of Ireland to Christianity. Nothing to do with homosexuality other than forgiveness. The parade is not a place for organized banner-waving deviants and criminals.
grimchieftain | Mar 03, 2010, 07:33 AM EST
I don't understand all the pandering to such a small, but vocal, minority. Their a minimal fraction of the population; so why all the kow towing?
GuinnessGrrl | Mar 02, 2010, 07:17 PM EST
If you're a Christian, that makes you a follower of Christ & of Christ's words. There's nothing in the New Testament about Christ speaking out against it. If Jesus thought homosexuality was wrong, don't you think He would have mentioned it at least once?
olovely | Mar 02, 2010, 04:35 PM EST
The more a man shouts about the evils of homosexuality the more his wife knows what he's up to when he's not home.
Monsoonman | Mar 02, 2010, 12:36 PM EST
Hi, Monsoonman - what do you think about this? Well as the attorney said: ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people? WITNESS: All of them. The live ones put up too much of a fight. ...I'll leave the censoring to the experts.
Monsoonman | Mar 02, 2010, 12:15 PM EST
The parade could be divided up into proclivity divisions, each with its own trophy for originality, costume, artistic interpretation, etc. The divisions could be, not necessarily in this order: hetero, bi, tri, gay, nambla, undecided and a special mention for other species.
Seventhson | Mar 02, 2010, 12:02 PM EST
You are wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
amurphy | Mar 02, 2010, 11:46 AM EST
Why not get rid of every banner and march behind one banner? No stepdancers flaunting their ability or unions flaunting their necessity or nurse their helpfulness, just one banner celebrating Irishness and nothing else.
Monsoonman | Mar 02, 2010, 11:16 AM EST
Years ago when I woke up feeling happy I would open up my window and shout to the world I was feeling gay....but no more, my verb was turned into a noun. My take on the parade is that it should be about inclusion, lets honor and recognize everyone's sexual proclivities....no matter what they are, after all it's the only fair thing to do.
killowen | Mar 01, 2010, 07:32 PM EST
There are gays a-plenty married like McGreevey who remain in the closet. They have made a contribution there is no doubt but we must address their hetro / homo impulses in settings like the military/navy and close billetted situations. The added fear that they may convert our society and render us undermanned with time. Common sense concerns. The Dublin parade is essentially a parade for gays.
killowen | Mar 01, 2010, 07:24 PM EST
The Dublin parade is essentially a parade for gays.
rcrdskpr@aol.com | Mar 01, 2010, 06:45 PM EST
let the gaylicks march. as long as they march and not prance.
CHRISMICK | Mar 01, 2010, 06:44 PM EST
DO YOU REALLY THINK SAINT PATRICK OR GOD WOULD APPROVE OF THIS?IF THEY WANT TO DO A PARADE,THEN DO SO AWAY FROM THE THE EVER GOING LOCATIONS.AS ONE COMMENT SAYS,LET THE CATHOLICS CARRY ON THE TRADITION THEY STARTED IT.SOMETHINGS CANNOT BE CHANGED AND SHOULD NOT CHANGE.AMEN
olovely | Mar 01, 2010, 05:39 PM EST
If Irish Catholics followed Church teaching there wouldn't be anyone left to march in the parade. It's bigotry, not piety, that's behind the ban. Leave God out of it because let's face it, bigots are pretty good at that when it suits them.
CanadianPat | Mar 01, 2010, 04:14 PM EST
God help them ,it's not like they have parades of there own!Oh! Hold on?...... Celebrate your sexual preference ,if you must, in it's own forum.By and by ,what kind of revisionist history suggest that Pearse was gay, don't you think if there was any truth in that ,it would not have come out long before now .Britain, like an old dog would have jumped on that bone long ago.
nytreader | Mar 01, 2010, 03:26 PM EST
Do we really want to bring up "church teaching" with all that's gone on in the last few years? Do I need to bring up the abuse and cover up that the church has taught all of us? It's time everyone marched or no one!
HoundofUlster | Mar 01, 2010, 02:45 PM EST
Oh, be Christian and turn the other cheek, cheeky thing!
arkansas | Mar 01, 2010, 01:14 PM EST
no they shouldn't. It was the Irish Catholics who started this parade leave it that way. If they don't want to follow church teaching then stay away and really this means you also.
HoundofUlster | Mar 01, 2010, 12:20 PM EST
About time. Being gay is being alive. Enjoy the parade.
Spiritranger | Mar 01, 2010, 12:06 PM EST
"Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all." God help us...
nancyswalk | Mar 01, 2010, 11:43 AM EST
We all march because we are Irish ! Thats the way is should be. If you are gay ,fine but you don't have to fluant it!Just enjoy the day!
slainte9 | Mar 01, 2010, 11:25 AM EST
People shouldn't be allowed to use a parade that's a cultural celebration for their own political purposes. For example, while pro-life, pro-choice and Fred Phelps's anti-gay Westboro Baptist church members are allowed to march in the Topeka, KS, St. Patrick's Day parade, none of them are allowed to carry signs or in any way advertise their divise messages. Be careful what you wish for. Open the door to everyone's message and you'll have let in Rev. Fred Phelps, too.
nytreader | Mar 01, 2010, 10:59 AM EST
We should just get rid of the St. Patrick's Parade in New York City once and for all. It's a waste of money and it's all about the suburban kids coming in and getting drunk on our streets. The whole idea of celebrating St.Patrick has long ago faded from the parade. It really just gives the Irish a bad name from it.
dermot.r | Mar 01, 2010, 10:58 AM EST
As an openly gay Irish Catholic priest, I would love to be able to wave the colors of the rainbow at the St. Parick's Day parades. It's not about flaunting sexuality; it's about the inclusion of all the children of the Gael.
dermot.r | Mar 01, 2010, 10:33 AM EST
Gays are welcome to march, just not to flault their sexuality. It's a religious parade not a sex parade.
patrickesq | Mar 01, 2010, 10:04 AM EST
What would St. Patrick say?
mandokeith | Mar 01, 2010, 10:03 AM EST
I reaaly don't see any benefit to waving your sexual preferences in public. Those are private (and often disturbing), issues. I don't want to know what someone does with another person or animal behind closed doors. Why can't we all just participate as citizens who celebrate our Irishness? Leave the sex/bar scene out of it.
johnconnolly | Mar 01, 2010, 10:00 AM EST
Have you ever watched the gay parades in San Francisco? Think about it!
johnozed | Mar 01, 2010, 09:41 AM EST
I wholeheartedly agree. The Ancient Hibernians are hanging onto way too old traditions and should step into the 21st century before it's too late. Gays can march in Dublin & Cork, why not NYC?
yesyesyes | Mar 01, 2010, 09:29 AM EST
Thanks for the article..I agree ..Let's represent our behavior as enlightened...not restrictive..When we stop judging others ..we will not be judged..
Joanhugh | Mar 01, 2010, 09:24 AM EST
Plenty of Gays march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade right now. They are just asked not to carry a sign. There are plenty of organizations that are not allowed to carry a sign in the parade