By RENEE BEYDA
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio proudly announced on Thursday the end of the 25-year ban of LGBT New Yorkers in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
On March 17th, the mayor will finally walk down Fifth Avenue alongside 300 members of the Lavender and Green Alliance, an Irish LGBT group, to celebrate the contributions of Irish immigrants to the city.
“Today we can say the role of inclusion and hospitality rises to welcome and embrace us all,” said Brendan Fay, co founder of Green and Lavender Alliance said at a joyful press conference in the Irish Consulate. “A thousand thanks to you,” he added to de Blasio.
After years of fighting to be able to participate in the parade, gay Irish-Americans ca strut down the avenue as opposed to protesting on the sidelines.
Over 150 years ago, waves of Irish immigration came to New York and made their marks on society. “Now we have an opportunity for everyone from that community to join together and celebrate their heritage, their pride, in what the Irish has done for New York,” said de Blasio.
The decision to reform the parade was influenced heavily by Ireland’s national ruling of marriage equality nine months ago, which the United States quickly followed.
“Finally fairness has been restored to Fifth Avenue,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO and president of Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
Growing up in an Irish family she remembers marching with her mother in the parade but she was disappointed in recent years when she wasn’t able to have the same experience with her two children and wife.
De Blasio was only mayor to boycott the parade over the gay rights ban. Last year OUT@NBCUniversal, a small LGBT group, were permitted to march, however it wasn’t enough for the mayor as he boycotted for his second year, pressuring parade organizers to reform their rules.
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