Staten Island: LGBTQ Groups March Under Their Banner at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade

A Major Step Forward for the LGBTQ Community

For the first time in 61 years, an LGBTQ group marched under its own banner at the traditional St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Staten Island on Sunday. Organizers hailed the event as “a great day for the queer community,” signaling the end of a long-standing ban.

The authorization for the Staten Island Pride Center to participate was announced last November, marking the end of the parade’s status as the last major local event that excluded organized LGBTQ groups. Activist KC Hankins, 32, expressed his joy at this long-awaited change.

“After more than a decade of refusals, we are finally allowed,” said Hankins. “It’s a great day for the queer community to be fully recognized in our own neighborhood.”

A Warm Welcome from the Crowd and Officials

The parade kicked off at 12:30 PM on Forest Avenue, and the response from the crowd was overwhelmingly positive. Cheers and applause accompanied the first steps of LGBTQ groups marching proudly under their own banner.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams also attended the event, emphasizing the significance of this inclusion:

“This is a true victory for this community… They are simply saying that they are proud to be Irish and proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community.”

He also praised the resilience of the activists:

“Their perseverance proves that when you stand up for what is right, you eventually win.”

A Shift After Years of Boycotts

The Staten Island parade was the last in the city to reject LGBTQ inclusion. Other parades, such as the Throggs Neck event in the Bronx, had already reversed their stance in 2022, while Manhattan’s main St. Patrick’s parade welcomed the LGBTQ community as early as 2015, following intense pressure, including the withdrawal of Guinness sponsorship and NBC’s threat to cease broadcasting.

In recent years, the number of organizations participating in the Staten Island parade had declined due to boycotts and frustration over restrictions. However, the decision to be more inclusive seems to have revitalized the event: approximately 80 groups registered this year, an increase of nearly one-third compared to 2024.

Read also : United States : LGBTQ+ Identification Reaches 9.3% in 2024

Ongoing Debate Within the Catholic Community

While this progress was widely celebrated, it was not without controversy. Bishop Peter Byrne of the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Sacrament expressed his opposition in a parish bulletin, denouncing the Pride Center’s presence as “in direct contradiction to the Church’s teachings on chastity.”

As a result, he prohibited the use of the parish as a registration point for parade participants.

“I do not support the parade, so the facilities here will not be available,” he declared.

However, some parishioners criticized his stance, considering it out of touch with reality and the spirit of inclusion.

“The Jesus I grew up learning about would never have made such a critical and intolerant statement,” one parishioner remarked.

Father Frank, the parish priest, sought to ease tensions by clarifying that the church would remain open for people needing restroom access during the event.

A Step Closer to Inclusion

Among spectators, opinions varied on the necessity of LGBTQ banners, but the majority welcomed this inclusive move.

“This is a positive step. We need to include everyone,” said Christine McCord, 56.

Others celebrated this historic turning point:

“The parade was a beautiful celebration, and I’m happy they finally let LGBTQ community members march today!” an enthusiastic attendee shared.

The 2025 Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade thus marks a significant milestone in changing attitudes and recognizing diversity within the Irish-American community. 🌈🍀