Staten Island’s new, inclusive St. Patrick’s Day parade, happening March 17, will finally allow LGBTQ+ groups to participate for the first time in Staten Islands history. The Forest Avenue Business Improvement District has taken the forefront on advocating on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community and helping others push through this inclusive parade. Though the parade will be taking place on a different date than the original St. Patty’s day parade that was held on March 3, this is a big breakthrough and a step in the right direction for the LGBTQ+ community.
This event, called the Forest Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade, was approved by mayor Eric Adams and his administration. The mayor has been vocal in the past of not supporting the anti-LGBTQ+ parade by boycotting due to its exclusivity, and for years, LGBTQ+ people have been directly banned from Staten Island’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. The organizers of the original parade based their findings on the teachings of the Catholic Church.
The parade’s original organizer, Larry Cummings, has repeatedly and aggressively rejected her efforts to be included. Cummings stuck to his word throughout the years to ensure the exclusivity of the Irish heritage and culture, stating “It is not a political or sexual identification parade.”
In 2022, the Center of Staten Island’s director Carol Bullock, spoke about her experience while submitting her application in person to Cummings. She sited that he immediately placed it in the rejection pile when it was handed to him, doing the same with applications from organizations supporting police officers and firefighters of LGBTQ+. “That made it a little more painful because you have F.D.N.Y. and N.Y.P.D. people who are protecting our community, but they can’t march in a parade,” Bullock told the New York Times.
According to the Times, parade organizers have been both hostile to the participation of LGBTQ+ groups and have physically removed folks from the parade who supported LGBTQ+ people. Moreover, banning individual people from participating. In 2020, Miss Staten Island, Madison L’Insalata, wasn’t able to march because she came out as bisexual. Republican City Councilman Joseph Borelli was removed because he had a rainbow pin on his jacket.
The District Attorney of Staten Island, Michael McMahon in conjunction with Michael Cusick, CEO of the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation and Staten Island Zoo CEO Ken Mitchell said the following, “We join the overwhelming majority of our neighbors in expressing our relief at the news that an inclusive St. Patricks’ Day parade will finally be held on Staten Island. We look forward to once again donning our green, sharing perhaps a pint of Guinness, and kicking off a St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Staten Island that will not exclude participants based on who they are or who they love.
“From day one, Mayor Adams has been clear that celebrations in our city should be welcoming and inclusive. That is why we are thrilled to be collaborating with the Staten Island Business Outreach Center for their first-ever St Patrick’s Day parade this year where everyone interested—regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, or beliefs—will be welcome to march together.”
Other areas in and around New York City have opened up to LGBTQ+ community. Queens offers a LGBTQ+-friendly St. Pat’s for All Parade, and the city’s main St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Manhattan has also allowed LGBTQ+ groups to participate for the last decade. The Staten Island parade was one of the only St. Patrick’s Day celebrations left in the areathat continues to exclude LGBTQ+ people … but times have changed and activists within the community are exhilarated that there will finally be a place for everyone to celebrate … and we are too!
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