St. Patrick's Day Parade in Staten Island denies LGBTQ groups from open marching

LGBTQ+ organizations on Staten Island were again barred from openly marching in the St. Patrick's Parade. (Photo by Ian Taylor from Unsplash)

LGBTQ+ organizations on Staten Island were again barred from openly marching in the St. Patrick's Parade in the borough.

Rejecting LGBTQ Groups

Two community organizations, Rainbow Center of SI and Gay Officers Action League (GOAL), submitted their applications to march in the parade at Blessed Sacrament Church on Sunday.

Since 2018, Carol Bullock, executive director of the Pride Center of SI, has applied for the group to participate in the march. According to the parade guidelines, she did not expect the center to be accepted this year, as it has been denied yearly.

Moreover, Larry Cummings, the head of the parade committee, declined Bullock's request for a meeting to discuss the center this year. Bullock stated that she attempted to set up an appointment to discuss the center this year.

This year, St. Patrick's Day parade, scheduled for Mar. 5, should not feature LGBTQ+ groups walking under their banner, according to Cummings and, presumably, the rest of the committee.

On Sunday, Bullock remained optimistic as over a dozen supporters, sporting pride pins and carrying Irish and pride flags, walked to the church's basement entrance to deliver their applications to Cummings.

Cummings reportedly asked Bullock to get out since she represents a homosexual organization.

As further discussed, Sen. Jessica Spanton knocked on the church's door to inform the congregation that another organization, GOAL, wished to apply. The response was, "I'm sorry, but no."

She said that elected representatives from all different political parties have chosen not to march in this parade as a show of support for LGBTQ+ groups that are prohibited from openly marching.

She stated that she did not want this incident to represent Staten Island when "one person" stopped the groups.

Two NYPD Community Affairs officers reportedly entered the church to talk with Cummings and the committee to examine the situation after arriving on the site.

Then, Bullock and Joyce Garrison, GOAL's recording secretaries, resubmitted their applications.

They were each refused once more.

Staten Island's St. Patrick's Day parade is reported to be the only event that excludes LGBTQ+ groups from walking under their banner.

Staten Island's St. Patrick's Day Parade

The parade will be held on Forest Avenue on Sunday, Mar. 5. The departure from Hart Boulevard is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.

The 59th annual procession will travel from Hart Avenue to Jewett Avenue along Forest Avenue. Except for important intersections, the road will be closed at 11:30 a.m.

The grand marshal for this year is Martin Crimmins. Kimmarie Taylor receives the title of Miss Hibernia. Maureen Hurley from Division 2 LAOH, Patricia Hunt from Division 4 LAOH, Brendan Lynch from Division 1 AOH, and Michael McGroarty from Division 4 AOH all received awards.

In recent years, the parade has been involved in controversy due to the St. Patrick Parade Committee's unwillingness to allow the LGBTQ+ community to march.

Community Board 1 passed a motion in June urging the city to withhold taxpayer funds from the committee until a vote of 24-0 includes the event with two abstentions. The mayor has remained mute on demand thus far.