Irish LGBT group celebrates 10 years marching in NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade

*This article was submitted to IrishCentral by Brendan Fay, the Irish-born founder of the Lavender and Green Alliance and St. Pats For All.

There are hugs and hellos as our Irish LGBT group, the Lavender and Green Alliance, arrives at our assembly point on 48th Street between Madison and Fifth Avenue.

In the 2026 St. Patrick’s Day parade, we unfurl our new Lavender and Green Alliance banner. This is our tenth year marching.

We remember those who made the road for us. Our banner's images tell their stories - Robert Rygor (1953-1994) renowned AIDS activist from Queens; Belfast-born Tarlach Mac Niallais (1962-2020) human rights advocate in Belfast and New York who died from Covid 19 complications; Gene Walsh (1955-2025) gay pioneer in the Fire Department; Pioneer Priest Fr. John McNeill (1925-2015); Fr. Mychal of 9/11 (1933-2001).

Honoring 1916, we include Roger Casement (1864-1916) and nurse Elizabeth O’Farrell (1883-1957).

Their faces look back at us as we remember them with wonder, affection, and pride. They call us like them to be brave, to live our lives with courage, to care, to speak up for human rights, and to work for change and for justice. And to be sure to take time for friendship, poetry, stories, and song. 

There's a bit of commotion as a tall, handsome, and charismatic man joins us. It's Jack Schlossberg, grandson of US President John F Kennedy and a congressional candidate for New York’s 12th District. He registered some days before to march alongside us "to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community."

Michael Kane distributes buttons with our group’s theme “Éirimid Amach le Chéile” (We rise – out together) and the heart-shaped blending of our Irish and rainbow flags. 

This year, the Lavender and Green Alliance honored Sheila Brophy and her daughter, Meghan Brophy. Sheila was among the early activists in the early 1990s who campaigned for our inclusion and was among many of us who were arrested through the years.

“I’m proud of my mom’s activism and glad I grew up knowing about this struggle,” said Meghan. “We were proud to march with Lavender and Green Alliance for immigrant justice and collective liberation.”

Sheila recalls: “In the early 1990s, I was arrested three times as a member of the Irish Lesbian and Gay Organization at this parade.

“As the daughter of an Irish immigrant to this city, I am glad to be here today to continue to stand for justice.”

Abby Donley, registered nurse and organizer with Lavender and Green Alliance, further tells us: “The Irish American experience is rooted in migration and resistance. As LGBTQ Irish New Yorkers, we march proudly knowing our history teaches us: When we stand up for LGBT rights, immigrant justice, and human dignity, we are continuing a long tradition of Irish solidarity.

"It’s powerful to march today knowing members of our Irish LGBTQ+ community like Sheila Brophy were arrested for demanding equal inclusion in this parade. Our presence in the 2026 St Patrick’s Parade is a testament to the courage of Irish activists who organized decades before.”

Abby and I guide our group, weaving with our banner into place among the 48th Street waiting crowd. There are the banners and bands with dozens of young people and their musical instruments, excited and giddy to be in a New York City St. Patrick's Day parade.

Soon, the formation committee representative guarding the entrance to Fifth Avenue looks up from the sheets of paper and waves to us.

Meghan pushes the wheelchair with her mom, and we cross from 48th Street onto 5th Avenue to enthusiastic cheers at 3:15 pm. 

Yes, we were towards the back of the parade. Someone said it was to keep us off the parade broadcast. Yet, as I ran to 48th Street, a reporter from Channel 7, seeing the Aran jumper and the Lavender and Green sash, was surprised when I told her I was on the way to lead our Irish LGBT group on 5th Avenue. We spoke about our story and Fr. Mychal Judge, the FDNY, and 9/11.  

It’s an emotional and exciting moment – crossing the threshold onto 5th Avenue proudly carrying a banner with our name and rainbow colors. It’s a moment of courage, coming out, and cultural belonging. 

We are aware of the cost. Years of protests. Hundreds of arrests. Some lost jobs. Others died hoping and waiting. But we stayed with the cause of inclusion, patient and persistent for a quarter of a century. 

There are roars and thumbs up from people on the sidewalk as we almost skip up the avenue. 

I look over at Meghan and her mom, Sheila, in the wheelchair.

Conversations and shared stories recall the early days of courage and activism. In March 1991, New York City Mayor David Dinkins left the honor of leading the 5th Avenue St Patrick’s Day Parade and stepped back in support of ILGO, our Irish LGBT group marching as guests of AOH 7. Mayor Dinkins was pelted with cans of beer and roars of abuse. We heard the screams - "Get AIDS!" "Go back to where you came from." I’m still not sure if they meant the county in Ireland or the closet! 

But of course, there was no turning back!

Mayor Dinkins later said it reminded him of Birmingham, Alabama, during the civil rights movement. After the March 16, 1991, parade, he told a reporter: “One day it will be different, and I hope that day is not far away.”

Well, there was a 25-year wait before we were welcomed onto Fifth Avenue with our “Lavender and Green Alliance – Muintir Aerach na hÉireann” banner in 2016.

We don’t take this for granted, even 10 years later.

That morning, I spoke at a public tribute by NYCAN to African American gay civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, who was born on March 17, 1912. He, too, spoke out against war, hatred, and nuclear weapons. 

I also heard the reports that day of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s message recalling St. Patrick’s teachings in the 5th century against hatred, killing, and war, and Roger Casement's human rights advocacy in the Congo and Amazon.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, New York. pic.twitter.com/DPCGPlFbE2

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) March 17, 2026

During the parade, there was a lovely surprise when a tall, thin man with an official Irish tricolor sash approached our banner. It was Dr. John Lahey. We were delighted. As vice-chairman of the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, Dr. Lahey led efforts to welcome the Lavender and Green Alliance into the 2016 St Patrick’s parade. The issue had gone all the way to the Bronx Supreme Court.

He shook hands. Joined us and walked a while behind our banner. He and I acknowledged the long road to the 2016 conflict resolution and the eventual warm welcome, overcoming years of exclusion, insanity, and inhospitality.

We spoke of the historic meeting at the Irish Consul General’s office - that was when I poured my heart out pleading for inclusion of Irish LGBT immigrants.

He acknowledged regret that it took so long. I thanked Dr. Lahey for his historic efforts in the face of opposition and said together we got where we needed to be, and here we are 10 years later, on the Avenue.

Lavender and Green Alliance marching in the 2026 NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade. (Razid Season)

As our group was near St Patrick’s Cathedral, Mr. Schlossberg shared the phone with those of us close by as his mother, Caroline Kennedy – former US Ambassador to Japan (2013 to 2017) and Ambassador to Australia (2022 to 2024) - extended good wishes for St Patrick’s Day to our Irish LGBT group.

I moved towards the phone, responding on behalf of Lavender and Green Alliance. I thanked her for years of advocacy for human rights.

Later, Schlossberg, who is also a congressional candidate for New York’s 12th District, posted photographs with a message to the 850,000 followers on his Instagram page: "today’s about ALOT more than drinking — it’s about an oppressed people fighting to be free."

At the Cathedral, just like David Dinkins did in March 1991, a few of us stepped towards Bishop Whelan and other clergy on the steps. We extend the greeting, a warm hello. We are LGBT Irish, grateful to be here with our people on the Avenue. Change is possible. Megan pushes the wheelchair with her mom forward to greet them. We reach out. The bishop seems anxious to have us move on.

As Irish LGBT persons, we know the pain of inhospitality and exclusion. The experience makes us determined to care and work for a spirit of hospitality and a just immigration reform.

At the parade end, we are greeted by Hilary Beirne and Parade Chairman Sean Lane.

We then turn from 79th Street and 5th Avenue.

We thank Jack Schlossberg for joining us and Layla Law-Gisiko, candidate for the New York City Council.

As we celebrate in the parade, I speak of our need to remember other immigrants deported or in detention centers- men, women, and children like our own Irish immigrants who journeyed for generations before. We remember Renee Good, who wrote of her happy summers in Ireland as a teenager, now killed because she cared for immigrant neighbors. We send regards to her wife and family.

These are anxious times for immigrants and migrants. LGBT immigrants experience attacks and erasure. 

We rise together. We care for one another and continue to work for a future of hope. We are not giving up or giving in. Silence is not an option. As previous generations of Irish LGBTQ persons passed on to us – In the worst of times, we rise bravely together as loud and proud LGBT Irish, believing in “liberty and justice for all.”

Together we sing "Wild Mountain Thyme," the Malachy McCourt anthem. People around us join in. Malachy McCourt (September 20, 1931 – March 11, 2024) rolled with us for years before he died. He taught us to sing and laugh as we passionately struggle and work for change.

We hug and photograph. We thank each other for showing up.

Then we head for the subways to continue our St. Patrick’s Day celebrations of solidarity and song with friends across the city.