New York City -
It may be the biggest Irish parade in the country, but Irish gay groups were once again relegated to the sidelines of the annual St Patrick's Day Parade in New York.
About 30 gays and lesbians, representatives of Irish American LGBT groups, demonstrated against their exclusion from behind a police barricade.
One group, chanted "We're here, we're queer, we'll be here every year." The demonstrated decried Mayor Michael Bloomberg's participation in the event.
Courts have upheld the right of the organizers of the parade to exclude gay groups.
On March 7, an alternative St. Patrick's Day parade that accepts gay groups was held in Queens for the fifth straight year. Bloomberg, also participated in that parade, but the highlight was the appearance of New Paltz mayor Jason West. (365gay.com story)
Despite the snub to gay participants, today's parade marched up Fifth Avenue as heavy snow fell and temperatures dropped below freezing. 150,000 people took part in the parade.
©365Gay.com® 2004
About 30 gays and lesbians, representatives of Irish American LGBT groups, demonstrated against their exclusion from behind a police barricade.
One group, chanted "We're here, we're queer, we'll be here every year." The demonstrated decried Mayor Michael Bloomberg's participation in the event.
Courts have upheld the right of the organizers of the parade to exclude gay groups.
On March 7, an alternative St. Patrick's Day parade that accepts gay groups was held in Queens for the fifth straight year. Bloomberg, also participated in that parade, but the highlight was the appearance of New Paltz mayor Jason West. (365gay.com story)
Despite the snub to gay participants, today's parade marched up Fifth Avenue as heavy snow fell and temperatures dropped below freezing. 150,000 people took part in the parade.
©365Gay.com® 2004
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.
