Staten Island’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade celebrated its 60th anniversary on Sunday, and this time there will be competition.
Despite a long-term pressure campaign by local media and elected leaders, parade organizers still refuse to allow LGBT groups to march alongside the FDNY, local school bands, and bagpipers.
So this year, the second St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held for the first time on March 17th, with LGBTQ groups participating and marching with their own flags.
Opponents claim the Staten Island celebration is “the only known parade in the world that excludes people.”
On Sunday, along Forest Avenue in Staten Island’s West Brighton neighborhood, spectators dressed in green cheered while waving Irish flags and threw beads among drinks stained green and orange. A group of pro-life supporters also participated in the parade.
Despite its festive atmosphere, the event was fraught with controversy, with most spectators interviewed by the Post saying there should be a single, all-encompassing parade.
“It’s unfortunate that we can’t all be on the same page. Let’s get everyone involved,” said David Gonzalez, 38, a sanitation worker from Staten Island who attended the parade with his wife and son.
The Buckley family on Staten Island lined up behind a fence along the parade route, marking LGBT groups with inscriptions such as, “Jesus said, ‘Love one another,’ and he excluded no one.” There were signs posted with slogans of support. I am with Jesus. ”
An alternative all-encompassing parade will once again fill Forest Avenue with a sea of green, but this time with the remaining colors of the rainbow.
Bonnie Buckley, 61, a retired teacher who lives on Staten Island, said attending the parade is an annual tradition for her family, but would return “on March 17th, when gays are welcome.” .
“Jesus Christ gave us a commandment, and that commandment is to love one another. As humans, I don’t think we can decide who receives love,” she said.
Queens attorney Rory Buckley, 29, said he’s happy to be a part of this year’s event, but hopes this will be the only year for a split parade.
“I prefer the unification parade, but [where] We will allow anyone who wants to march to march. At least there is some backlash on the other side, Pride Staten Island.Hopefully [the alternate parade] It was such a success that they came to their senses and will probably hold a big organized parade next year. ”
Jessica Felitti, a 37-year-old real estate worker from Old Bridge, New Jersey, who attended the parade with her family, echoed similar sentiments.
“I think it’s ridiculous to have two parades. They should have it and everyone should be included.”
One man who attended with his extended family said he simply could not support what the LGBTQ group stands for.
“We’re here to celebrate St. Patty’s Day. It’s a Catholic parade. Nobody cares what people do behind closed doors. [But], we don’t like it and don’t support it. ”
The Staten Island parade is perhaps the only holdout against excluding LGBTQ groups. Other such groups have participated in other events over the years, including the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Chicago’s South Side and marches in South Boston.
Leaders, including Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon, the district’s top Irish elected official, said a second inclusive parade was long overdue.
In a joint statement, also written by Michael Cusick, CEO of the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation, and Ken Mitchell, CEO of the Staten Island Zoo, the leaders said that “the world’s only known “There should no longer be parades that exclude people who are suffering.”
