Staten Island Irish reject the queers. Yet again.

A grassroots movement to allow LGBTQ people to march in Staten Island, New York’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade has failed.

Queer Staten Islanders have tried for years to secure a spot in the St. Paddy’s Day parade only to find their efforts rebuffed. This year proved no exception. Despite the efforts of several community groups–including Pride Center of Staten Island and the Gay Officer’s Action League, parade organizers have rejected the inclusion of out-LGBTQ participants. Parade organizer Larry Cummings gave the only explanation: “This is not a sexual identification parade.”

Pride Center of Staten Island executive director Carol Bullock pointed out to Cummings and the media that the St. Paddy’s Day Parade began, in large part, due to anti-Irish sentiment. Her illustrations of hypocrisy did not dissuade parade organizers.

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“It’s disappointing,” Bullock told GayCity News of the ongoing ban on LGBTQ groups in the parade. “It sends a terrible message, especially to the youth who are thinking of coming out and celebrating who they are. This is the type of thing they’ll be facing. It’s sad and frustrating.”

The continued ban on queer participation in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade becomes all the more perplexing when considering….

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